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Top NY National Guard Commander will discuss $121 million Jamaica Armory project on March 16

Media Advisory

Latham, NY (03/12/2020) — Major General Ray Shields, the Adjutant General of New York, will discuss the latest milestone in the $121 million renovation of the historic Jamaica Armory - the award of a $9 million construction management contract-during a media briefing on Monday, March 16 at the Armory.

WHO: Major General Ray Shields, the Adjutant General of New York; Gary Yaple, the Director of Facilities Management & Engineering for the New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs; and officers of the 258th Field Artillery.

WHAT: A press briefing outlining progress towards the renovation of the Jamaica Armory, which houses the 1st Battalion, 258th Field Artillery. LiRo Program and Construction Management, PE P.C. , which is part of the LiRo Group headquartered in Syosset, has been awarded a $9 million contract by the New York State Office of General Services to oversee the work on the projects, which is estimated to cost about $121 million-- $31 million in state funds and $90 million from the federal government--including design, construction and construction management.

WHEN: 11 a.m., Monday, March 16, 2020.

WHERE: Jamaica Armory conference room, 9305 168 St, Jamaica, N.Y.

Coverage Opportunities: Major General Ray Shields, the commander of the 16,000 men and women of the New York Army and Air National Guard will outline plans for the renovation of the Armory and will take questions from reporters. Architectural renderings of the proposal will be available.

Members of the media must call the New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs public affairs office at 518-786-4581 to gain access to this secure military facility.

BACKGROUND:

Planning for the Jamaica Armory began in 1928 when the Armory Board went looking for a plot of land to serve as a new home for the New York National Guard's 104th Artillery Regiment. In 1931, the board filed plans for an armory estimated to cost $1.75 million with the Queens Borough government.

When completed in 1936, the Art Deco-style Amory cost $1.5 million to build. The plans included space for a gymnasium, company offices, a lounge, locker rooms, recreation areas, a pistol range and a bowling alley.

There was also a stable with space for 138 horses used to pull the 104th Artillery's 75-millimeter guns left over from World War I. A harness shop to repair the horse's harnesses was also included. Architect Charles B. Meyers, who specialized in designing schools, hospitals and public buildings, designed the armory.

The 104th Artillery occupied the Armory in April of 1936.

Today the Jamaica Armory is home to the headquarters and other elements of the 1st Battalion, 258th Field Artillery and the 442nd Military Police Company.

Over the years, however, the structure of the armory has deteriorated and its layout and infrastructure no longer meets the needs of the 21st Century Army National Guard.

The Jamaica Armory is a critical training location for the New York Army National Guard and has always served as a key support location when the National Guard assists New York City residents.

During the Superstorm Sandy response in 2012, hundreds of National Guard Soldiers and Airmen operated from the armory for several weeks.

In December, Congress appropriated $91 million in federal funds to renovate the Armory in the National Defense Authorization Act. New York State will provide $30 million in funding for the project.

The Office of General Services expects to seek bids on the project this summer and to award the project in early August.

Work on the Jamaica Armory renovation is slated to begin in October 2020. The Office of General Services collaborated with the New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs on the design and construction of the project.

Work is expected to finish in March 2023.

The key parts of the project call for constructing a new 41,000 square foot readiness center within the existing structure and altering the existing 140,787 square foot readiness center section of the armory to better support Army National Guard training, administrative and logistics requirements.

This will entail installing new information technology systems, rebuilding offices and storage facilities, and installing state-of-the-art heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems. New locker rooms will be built, ensuring adequate space for female Soldiers. New equipment storage space will also be constructed.

The readiness center has been designed using the latest U.S. Green Building Council Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design Green Building Rating System to achieve a "Silver" rating.

The "drill shed" area of the armory, with its 100-foot high ceiling was originally designed with a dirt floor because the Soldiers drilled with horse drawn guns inside.

The existing asphalt floor will be replaced with a concrete, code compliant floor, and used for military vehicle parking and for the parking of Soldier's vehicles when required.

The basement of the Jamaica Armory houses an unused indoor firing range as well as supply and arms storage vaults. The old firing range will be converted into a modern simulation training area. New storage areas and weapons vaults that comply with current U.S. Army regulations will be constructed.

The Jamaica Armory currently houses 425 Soldiers assigned to the Headquarters and Headquarters Battery of the 1st Battalion, 258th Field Artillery, Company F of the 427th Brigade Support Battalion, and the 442nd Military Police Company. These units will temporarily relocate to other New York Army National Guard facilities in New York City and Long Island prior to construction.

LiRo Program and Construction Management, PE P.C. was founded in 1984 and currently employees 950 professionals. LiRo specializes in construction/ program management, engineering, environmental, and architectural and sustainable design.

LiRo is tasked with performing both pre-construction and construction administration and inspection services during the project.

The New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs finished a similar renovation project at the Fifth Avenue, or Harlem Armory, which houses the historic "Harlem Hell Fighters" the 369th Sustainment Brigade. That $70 million project started in 2014 and the units moved back into the armory at the end of 2018.

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