By KERRY SMITH, EDITOR, ST. LOUIS CONSTRUCTION NEWS AND REVIEW MAGAZINE
The official land transfer of the 97-acre site from the City of St. Louis to the federal government has taken place, moving the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency’s future St. Louis headquarters another step forward.
Last week the city closed on the official transaction governing the land transfer of the site located north of downtown at the north corner of Jefferson and Cass Avenues. St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson said the United States Air Force is now officially responsible for the site with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers serving as developer. The Corps is the federal agency overseeing construction of the NGA’s $1.7 billion headquarters.
“For over 70 years, St. Louis has been proud to be the home of NGA West,” said Krewson, “and with this land transfer, we are ensuring our relationship will strengthen into the future. But our renewed relationship isn’t just about building a new facility for the important work the NGA does to protect our country. It’s about reinvesting in our community and establishing St. Louis as the center for geospatial excellence.”
St. Louis Development Corporation Executive Director Otis Williams said several public and private sector entities assisted the city in securing the funding necessary to assemble and prepare the site according to the specifications that were required so that the land could be conveyed to the federal government.
NGA Director Robert Cardillo said the agency is appreciative of the significance of the land transfer.
“This land transfer is truly historic,” Cardillo said. “Building upon our history in St. Louis, the new campus in North City will enable the NGA to deliver our mission through the end of the century and beyond. We look forward to continuing teaming with the talent and innovation of the St. Louis region. We’re proud of all the work done to get to this point, and even more excited about what lies ahead.”
The Corps is still on track to award the construction work to one of three joint venture finalists in March 2019.
The two-phase, design-build, firm fixed-price project will include construction of a 712,800-square-foot main operations building, 38,000-square-foot central utility plant, nearly one million square feet of structured parking, 7,300-square-foot visitor control center, access roads and perimeter security.
In addition to the main RFP, the Corps will award five small business set-aside construction contracts.