Office of the Chief, Army Reserve

Office of the Chief, Army Reserve

Begins Operations in New Building

Fentress Architects’ Fast-Track Project Completed in 51 Weeks
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Dec. 20, 2011) –

Having celebrated its official ribbon cutting, the Office of the Chief, Army Reserve (OCAR) has relocated to its new headquarters building at Ft. Belvoir, Virginia. Designed by Fentress Architects as part of the Hensel Phelps/ Fentress Architects design-build team, the new OCAR facility is one of the final projects awarded under the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC).

To meet the mandated BRAC funding expiration date, the team designed and constructed the headquarters within a 51-week fast-track project schedule.

OCAR serves as the primary office of Lieutenant General Jack C. Stultz, the Chief, Army Reserve (CAR) and his administrative staff for Army Reserve personnel, operations and funding. The CAR is responsible for all plans, policies and programs affecting Army Reserve Soldiers, including those reporting directly to the Army. The three-story 88,350-square foot OCAR office building offers a contemporary approach to Ft. Belvoir’s historic design guidelines, and respects the design requirements of the National Capital Planning Commission and the height restrictions of the adjacent Friends Meeting House.

Design For People 

Part of an historic view corridor, the main façade of OCAR’s new building presents a formal command appearance along Goethals Road. This ceremonial entrance is celebrated with glazed curtainwall and metal panel canopy. An intuitive and efficient secondary staff entry is located along the south elevation. The facility is on track to achieve LEED Gold Certification.

Fentress Architects also designed the U.S. Army Forces Command (FORSCOM) and U.S. Army Reserve Command (USARC) joint headquarters building in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. The Fort Bragg USARC and OCAR are both commanded by Lieutenant General Jack C. Stultz. USARC is the nation’s premier provider of Citizen-Soldiers for planned and emerging missions at home and abroad.

OCAR Fast FactsLocation: Ft. Belvoir, Virginia,

Client: U.S. Army Corp of Engineers

Building Size: 88,350 square feet

Cost: $19,563,000

Fentress Architects

is a global design firm that passionately pursues the creation of sustainable and iconic architecture. Together with their clients, Fentress creates inspired design to improve the human environment. Founded by Curtis Fentress in 1980, the firm has designed US$26 billion of architectural projects worldwide, visited by over 300 million people each year. Fentress is a dynamic learning organization, driven to grow its ability to design, innovate and exceed client expectations. The firm has been honored with more than 360 distinctions for design excellence and innovation, and in 2010, Curtis Fentress was recognized by the American Institute of Architects with the most prestigious award for public architecture, the Thomas Jefferson Award. Fentress has studios in Denver, Colorado; Los Angeles, California; San Jose, California; Washington, D.C.; and London, U.K. www.fentressarchitects.com

Please contact Angela Potrykus at 303.282.6192 or potrykus@fentressarchitects.com for more information or images.