Conti Federal Services, a leading U.S. government construction and engineering firm specializing in complex critical infrastructure, disaster
response and recovery, and environmental remediation projects, has been named a winner in Engineering News Record (ENR) Southeast’s 2021 Best Project Awards, in the healthcare category, and a finalist for ENR Southeast’s Project of the Year. The award is for construction of an acute COVID-19 alternate care facility (ACF) in St. Croix, Virgin Islands.
When the COVID-19 crisis emerged in early 2020, FEMA and VITEMA recognized the tremendous risk faced by the U.S. Virgin Islands if it were to be hit by a major outbreak and partnered with the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Savannah District to rapidly implement an ACF in St. Croix. Conti Federal was awarded the USACE contract and began breaking ground immediately, successfully converting an existing National Guard barracks into a 24-bed ACF in just 22 days.
The $6.4 million project included facility upgrades and repairs; architectural modifications; mechanical, electrical and plumbing upgrades; a sophisticated HVAC system; and broadband communications system. Despite significant challenges as workforce availability, supply chain, transportation and other infrastructure were being shut down to contain the pandemic, Conti Federal completed and delivered a state-of-the-art ACF on time and without any COVID cases on May 8, 2020.
“As the COVID-19 crisis emerged, so did the challenges that went along with building an ACF on a remote island, while also ensuring the safety of those around us,” said Conti Federal Vice President, Pat Hogan. “Never before has our mission statement of ‘Done Once, Done Right’ been so critical. Being named as a winner and finalist by ENR for these two prestigious awards is truly an honor and a testament to the hard work of the Conti Federal team and USACE Savannah, along with everyone else involved in the project.”
The winner of ENR Southeast’s Project of the Year will be announced at the ENR Southeast Best Project Awards Celebration on November 4, 2021, in Orlando, Florida. The celebration will also honor all other Best Project award winners and finalists in the region as well.
