Celebrating the Groundbreaking of a New CDC at Pearl Harbor

By Denise Emsley, Naval Facilities Engineering Command Hawaii

PEARL HARBOR (NNS) -- Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Hawaii hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Peltier Child Development Center (CDC), National Atmospheric and Oceanographic Administration (NOAA) Wing on Oahu, Hawaii, Dec. 11.

"The project will enable childcare for an additional 122 Department of Defense (DoD) children," said NAVFAC Hawaii Commanding Officer Capt. Dean Tufts. "While I am happy that the building is to be designed to LEED Silver standards and will employ energy saving features including a 30-kilowatt photovoltaic system, I really love that it will give our Sailors and airmen another option, and maybe a better option, for their kids."

The new wing will be located on the northwest corner of Peltier Avenue and Nimitz Road next to the current CDC. Funded by NOAA, it is designed to meet the DoD Unified Facilities Criteria. The new structure will provide space for the care of children from the ages of 6 weeks to 5-years old.

"We are committed to our collaboration with the Navy and look forward to the construction and management of the new wing," said NOAA Chief Administrative Officer Ed Horton. "NOAA employees that have recently been consolidated into the new NOAA Daniel K. Inouye Regional Center on Ford Island are looking for relief in finding childcare facilities near work or on the way to work. By creating more space within the Navy's CDC system, both the DoD and NOAA personnel will benefit."

The project includes a reception area, staff/break room, storage, restrooms, kitchen, laundry, and janitorial space as well as two outdoor activity areas for four age groups.

Construction is expected to be completed by November 2015.

NOAA funding for the new wing was made possible through the efforts of the late Senator Daniel K. Inouye, whose championship and vision brought the Navy and NOAA together in renovating two historic aircraft hangars and incorporating them into a single, integrated world-class federal facility on Ford Island.

NAVFAC Hawaii awarded an $11.3 million contract Oct. 23, 2013 to RORE-ITSI, JV LLC (small business), San Diego, for a firm-fixed task order to construct a CDC at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.