NEWS

American Structurepoint won the Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA) - Great Lakes Region's 2011 Design-Build Project Award for the Muscatatuck Subterranean Training Facility (MUTC) project in the Institutional/Commercial/Retail – Under $10 Million category. Lead designer Shaun Cofer (Civil) accepted the award on behalf of American Structurepoint, Inc., along with Contractual Design/Build Team Leader Chris Ackert of Custom Mechanical Systems, Corp., at the Second Annual Golf Outing and DBIA-GLR Awards Banquet, held on August 4.

The high-profile, unique the Indiana-based simulated city is a training complex developed by the US Army and the Indiana National Guard. The project involved the design of 1,100 linear feet of life-like underground caverns across 1.3 acres to prepare soldiers to fight in confined underground scenarios. The design simulates ambush locations, command bunkers, confined tunnels, and escape tunnels all while using an unexpected, pitch-black labyrinth environment where trainees can become disoriented, as well as confined points that require soldiers to remove equipment, unexpected changes in elevation and hidden niches that replicate real caves, sharp corners greater than 90 degrees, and an enlarged room structure in the middle of the complex where soldiers can convene.