DVIDS – News – NAVFAC Southwest FEAD Coronado Team Completes Naval Station Coronado Surveillance Room Renovation

The Coronado team from Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command’s Facilities Engineering Acquisition Division Southwest joined members of Naval Station Coronado and Fleet Weather Center San Diego (FWC-SD) to commemorate the completion of Naval Station Coronado’s watch room renewal with a ribbon cutting ceremony held June 27 at Naval Air Station North Island.

“The Coronado Facilities Engineering and Acquisition Division overcame challenges to complete the project on schedule prior to the Fleet Weather Center San Diego change of command in early June 2024,” said Dr. Navid Gohardani, NAVFAC Southwest construction manager and the contracting officer’s authorized representative for this project. “The primary challenge on the project was the discovery and removal of asbestos adhesives for flooring. Manufacturers once commonly mixed asbestos into many types of caulks and sealants, and asbestos adhesives in particular were used for installing hardwood flooring, vinyl tile and other types of flooring. Another challenge was creating a usable and inviting kitchen area with a custom cabinet and sink combination due to space limitations.” The cabinets and open storage organizer for personal effects were designed to the specifications of the tenant’s order, manufactured off-site and finally installed in the kitchen area within 45 days.

San Diego-based Durable Good-Men was awarded a contract June 13, 2022, to complete work on the design-build project that included renovations to the Naval Air Station North Island (NASNI) Building 14 surveillance room and improvements to the information technology room.

NASNI Building 14 at Naval Station Coronado was designated as a historic building in 1991 as part of the Naval Air Station North Island Historic District. North Island was established as the first naval air station on the West Coast in 1917. When Building 14 was completed in 1919, it became the air station’s first hospital. The Naval Pacific Meteorology and Oceanography Facility moved into the vacant wings of Building 14 in 1993, becoming NASNI’s first METOC command.

“The primary benefit of the project to the tenant command was its on-time completion, which avoided any negative impact to the mission,” Gohardani said. “Additionally, the favorable occupancy date of June 5, 2024, supported a smooth transition for FWC-SD regarding the change of command.”

FWC-SD is an Echelon IV command reporting to Commander, Naval Weather and Oceanography Command and part of the Information Warfare Community. FWC-SD consists of approximately 400 civilian, military and contractor personnel in the Indo-Pacific who are responsible for providing weather and oceanographic capabilities to Navy, Joint and Coalition forces operating in the Third, Fifth and Seventh Fleets. FWC-SD personnel monitor weather along the U.S. West Coast to provide full-spectrum weather services to fleet, regional and unit commanders, enabling risk management, asset protection and mission execution. Operating 24 hours a day, FWC-SD provides several thousand customized weather forecasts per year to Navy pilots. The center also trains and deploys forecasters who serve on aircraft carriers and larger amphibious ships that carry many aircraft.

NAVFAC Southwest personnel working on this project included Project Manager Ilija Bisinovski, Gohardani, Technical Engineer Jeff Martin, Contract Specialist Melissa Armas and Contracting Officer Oksana Joye.

NAVFAC Southwest supports planning, design, construction, real estate, environmental and public works for the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, Army, Air Force and other supported federal agencies in Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Colorado.