Fort Carson, Colorado

WRA provided complete architectural – engineering design and construction support services for the Scout Reconnaissance Qualification Range (Scout/Recce) at Fort Carson, Colorado. The USACE-Omaha District directed/managed this specific delivery order awarded under WRA’s Huntsville RTLP ID/IQ contract.

This Scout Reconnaissance Qualification Range range is used to train and test scout vehicle crews on the skills necessary to zero, detect, identify, engage, and defeat Stationary Infantry Targets (SITs), Moving Infantry Targets (MITs), and Stationary Armor Targets (SATs) in a tactical array with the individual and crew prescribed weapons for a scout platoon or company/troop. The SRR was positioned on the southern end of Ft. Carson, and replaces existing Range 145. This location was selected to integrate with the long-term Master Range Plan for Ft. Carson.

Several potential conflicts with other ranges and significant site drainage features required the Design Team to work closely with the Ft. Carson Range Control personnel to develop an innovative range design that minimized the environmental impacts. The positioning of targets follows as closely as practical the standard Scout/Recce layout. However, the mountainous terrain and large drainage features paralleling the Scout/Recce on the western side necessitated the course roads be shifted closer together and target positions adjusted to reduce the amount of excavation and filling required.

The Range Operations and Control Area (ROCA) included the following standard buildings: Range Control Tower, After Action Review Building, Operations / Storage Building, Covered Mess, Covered Bleacher, Ammunition Loading Dock, and Vaulted Latrine. Existing buildings associated with Range 145 were also integrated into the ROCA which include Billet, Mess Hall, and Latrine (with water supply). The building designs are considered “smart” designs that incorporate practical, energy saving design elements meeting the intent of LEED guidance within the range program amount.

The design was completed on time and within budget. The construction award was significantly below WRA’s construction cost estimate and construction was completed in early 2012.
Project Components

- Project Management
– Site Planning
– Line-of-Sight Analysis
– Stormwater Design
– Channel Stabilization
– ACOE Wetland Coordination
– Permitting Facilitation
– Mass Grade Optimization
– Advance Terrain Modeling
– Construction Documents
– Specifications (SpecsIntact)
– M-CACES Cost Estimates
– Scout Reconnaissance Qualification Range