HOUSTON — A new efficient, environmentally friendly and hurricane resistant Coast Guard station was dedicated Thursday, during a ribbon-cutting ceremony held at the new Coast Guard Station Sabine Pass.
The old station was finally demolished and rebuilt after hurricanes Rita, Humberto, Gustav and Ike all took their toll on the unit. Extensive, wide-spread damage was done by Hurricane Ike which prompted Congress to authorize supplemental funding to rebuild and improve Coast Guard facilities that were affected.
The new 56,000-square-foot multi-mission station was built to withstand a Category 4 hurricane and boasts a number of amenities such as individual berthing areas, a large galley and recreation room, a fitness center and even a movie room.
In order to endure Category 4 winds and storm surge, the floor elevations of Station Sabine have been raised 18 feet above ground elevation to protect critical command and control and duty berthing spaces from the vulnerability to relative sea level rise and flooding. The foundation uses reinforced concrete piles designed to withstand storm surge and wave action from extreme weather events.
The new facility has also been built to meet certified sustainability standards under Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design. Formal LEED certification is currently in progress with the U.S. Green Building Council and is expected in the next couple of months.
Sustainability emphasizes such things as energy conservation and efficient use of water, while minimizing the impact this facility will have on its surroundings.
A few of the examples built into this new facility are:
- Water use reduction and use of water efficient landscaping
- The installation of water efficient plumbing fixtures throughout the building will reduce water consumption by 40%
- Smart lighting, high efficiency heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment coupled with significant increases in insulating the building envelope will improve energy efficiency by 30%
- Construction was also conscious of the environment:
- 20% of the materials used for this building were recycled materials
- More than 75% of the construction debris was redirected from disposal in landfills to recycling centers.
Capt. George Bonner, commander of the Coast Guard Facilities Design & Construction Center, Capt. James Whitehead, commander of the Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston and Master Chief Daniel Plumley, officer in charge, Station Sabine cut the ribbon in celebration of Coast Guard Station Sabine’s opening, Jan. 17, 2013. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Seaman Ivan J. Barnes
The new Coast Guard Station Sabine, Jan. 17, 2013. The new Coast Guard Station is one of many construction projects in progress within Sector Houston Galveston . U.S. Coast Guard photo by Seaman Ivan J. Barnes
