National Guard begins construction

Work on construction of a headquarters complex for the Nevada National Guard began with the clearing of the site for the new structure on Friday.

"We're already doing the grubbing and the site work," Lt. Col. Terry Sullivan said. "It's locked in and we're throwing dirt. Tell me about being relieved."

A groundbreaking ceremony is set for Tuesday at the site, located on Fairview Drive near the intersection with Edmonds Drive.

The two existing buildings on the 28-acre parcel were completed in 1993.

"This building will take up about a third of the parcel," Sullivan said.

Work on the $8.5 million structure should be finished by July 2001 with a late fall move-in date, Sullivan said.

"It is going to be a nice looking building," he said. "We'll be right there next to the bypass and it will get everyone in one place."

Officiating the ceremony will be Nevada's Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Tony Clark. Other participants include State Controller Kathy Augustine, State Sen. Lawrence Jacobsen and Assemblywoman Bonnie Parnell.

The complex will be 81,000 square feet and will be the new home for the Nevada National Guard Headquarters, the Army and Air Guard headquarters, Selective Service Detachment, Nevada Military Department administrative offices and the 150th Maintenance Company.

The complex, designed by Ganther, Melby, LLC Architects and Planners of Reno, is to be built by Pacific of Las Vegas.

The Guard's present headquarters along South Carson Street is owned by the state and also houses the state's Department of Emergency Management. That department will remain in the building.

Buildings being replaced include the headquarters, built in 1975, the 150th Maintenance Company Armory built in 1959 and the Carson City Armory built in 1975.

Sullivan said it will be up to the Legislature and the Nevada Division of State Lands to decide what happens to the old buildings.

"They will either come up with a plan to use it or sell it," he said. "They are probably worth $3 million on the market."

The Fairview complex, which is near the intersection with South Edmonds Drive, is not quite done yet, Sullivan said.

"We still have one more to go which is the U.S. Property and Fiscal Office," he said. "That will be the southernmost building."

That will be a $4.5-$4.7 million project and should start shortly after work on the headquarters building is done.

If you go

What: Groundbreaking for new National Guard headquarters

When 11 a.m. Tuesday

Where: 2444 Fairview Drive