U.S. General Services Administration
Bannister Federal Complex completes $60M renovation
By Matthew T. Doyle
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Under planning and construction since 2017, the $60 million limited scope alteration project for the Bannister Federal Complex in Kansas City, Missouri, will reach full completion in December 2022.
The General Services Administration project modernized the nearly 70-year-old building systems; addressed aging infrastructure such as the roof, electrical, and HVAC systems; and corrected fire and life safety deficiencies to meet the long-term needs of the U.S. Marine Corps, Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Department of Agriculture-Farm Service Agency, U.S. Army North, and a GSA field office.
The project replaced the facility’s 13-acre roof, upgraded the steam heating system to a sustainable and energy-efficient hot water system, installed a new substation and emergency generator, and updated lightning and fire protection systems. Due to the sheer scale of the facility, GSA implemented a color-code paint scheme to aid easier navigation throughout the complex.
Project Manager Suvit Boyd wore two hats during the project, first as project manager and later as contracting officer’s representative.
“One of the biggest challenges with this project was that it was an actively occupied space, being used 24/7,” said Boyd.
He noted plenty of other obstacles, including the need to create swing spaces – areas that current occupants could continue to work and operate in as normal – throughout the project. On top of that, the three-year project had to overcome personnel changes, including retirement of both the original contracting officer and contracting officer’s representative. With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, new difficulties were added to the mix, such as social distancing and new safety precautions.
Boyd, who has worked with GSA since 1998, was proud that with all the challenges the team faced, they were still able to complete the project on time and under budget by $1.4 million, while creating a more sustainable, energy-efficient building. The project also recycled over 2,100 tons of material, equivalent to diverting 71% of the project’s construction waste from a landfill.
The project also gave the Bannister facility condensing boilers, new technology tested and approved by GSA's Green Proving Ground back in 2012 and now the new industry standard. Condensing boilers capture heat traditional boilers lose through steam, raising the Bannister’s heating efficiency from 65% to 94% for an estimated annual savings of $41,000.
The project team relied heavily on contracted services, including JobOne for building upkeep, SSI for maintenance and operations, Superior Moving for timely moving services to coincide with the project schedule, Jacobs Technology Inc. served as construction management and commissioning agent, SFS Architecture and their partners contributed to the design, move management, and construction administration work, and J.E. Dunn Construction and their trade partners served as the general contractor for the entire project.
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About GSA: GSA provides centralized procurement for the federal government, managing a nationwide real estate portfolio of more than 370 million rentable square feet and overseeing approximately $75 billion in annual contracts. GSA’s mission is to deliver the best value in real estate, acquisition, and technology services across government, in support of the Biden-Harris Administration’s priorities. For more information, visit GSA.gov and follow us at @USGSA.