The Nuclear Power Training Unit (NPTU) at Joint Base Charleston (JBC) provides training on the operations and maintenance of nuclear reactors for naval vessels. To maintain NPTU’s first-rate training environment in an ever-changing world and to better train and attract new recruits, NPTU Charleston required expansion and modernization.
Keeping crews properly trained and up to date on the operations and upkeep of nuclear-powered naval vessels is paramount to maintaining national security. For NPTU, this meant updating an existing training campus to better meet national security needs, incorporate today’s technology, and educate incoming sailors. Additionally, the expansion and modernization of the existing campus would allow the Navy to expand its training program capacity in Charleston.
Our team designed 279,960 square feet of new and renovated buildings, including over 200,000 square feet of new construction. These buildings included labs, simulator spaces, classrooms, study areas, a cafeteria, an auditorium, a warehouse, a repair shop, administration/support offices, and high-bay spaces. We designed complex construction phasing plans to allow for 24/7 campus operations, including:
- Safe passage of students and staff through an active construction site.
- Phasing of mechanical and electrical utility systems.
- Planned sequences and occupancy turnover.
- Orchestrated barge movements for a new berthing pier.
- Phased changes to secure perimeter as construction progressed.
Resiliency has been increased through more reliable utility systems, facilities hardened for hurricane and a significant blast event, and barge-based ship support systems that have been replaced with land-based systems. The berthing pier extension was designed to maintain pier service during operational environmental conditions and evaluated for a Category 5 hurricane. Security posture has been improved with new and expanded systems. The facility also achieved LEED Silver certification, showing a 47% reduction in energy usage.
Following the initial NPTU expansion and modernization (major construction was complete in 2021), our team was awarded a contract in early 2024 to provide full design services for the NPTU simulator training facility expansion at JBC. The expansion supports the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program (NNPP) long-range plan to transition to an all-simulation nuclear training program. The overall project includes design of two high bays to house two large-scale simulators each and a connected training support building with required classroom, simulation and training spaces.