The National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) has earned ENR Midwest 2023 Project of the Year award, a testament to the facility’s innovative approach to biocontainment and biosafety, crucial for addressing zoonotic diseases and protecting the nation’s food supply. With the recognition, it is now among 20 projects up for the national Best of the Best Award, which will be announced in April. As the mechanical contractor, U.S. Engineering played a pivotal role in integrating complex systems that support the facility’s cutting-edge research capabilities.

Built on 48 acres in Manhattan, Kan., the new federal campus houses 715,000 sq ft of facility space, including a 574,000-sq-ft main lab building. The lab includes bio safety Level 2, 3, and 4 laboratory spaces, as well as BSL-3 and BSL-4 animal rooms.

McCarthy Mortenson JV, a partnership of McCarthy Building Companies and Mortenson Construction, led the project as the general contractor.

U.S. Engineering’s involvement underscores the company’s expertise in executing highly specialized mechanical installations that meet rigorous safety and operational standards, essential in a facility dedicated to biosecurity.

“A project like NBAF is once in a lifetime,” said Frank Schroer, Director of Operations for U.S. Engineering Construction. “I’ve worked on large, significant projects in the past, but few match the scope of this endeavor.”

The recognition by ENR not only celebrates the technical achievements of NBAF but also emphasizes the importance of collaboration among contractors, engineers, and researchers in creating infrastructures that can significantly impact public health and safety. The award showcases how engineering excellence and innovative construction techniques can contribute to national and global health security.

For those interested in a deeper dive into the specifics of the project and its impact on biocontainment and public health infrastructure, further information can be found in the ENR article.

U.S. Engineering Construction executed the mechanical installation scope of work for the project while affiliate company, U.S. Engineering Service, was the on-site facility maintenance team for the completed facilities that were not yet occupied as construction continued.