October 14, 2020 -Momentum for the new Education and Resiliency Center at Kuhn Hall kicked into high gear after the U.S. Secretary of the Army officially accepted the gift proffer in early summer giving the FMA Foundation approval to begin construction. The start of this phase began with the official (virtual) wall breaking ceremony on July 15. For a recap of that celebration and to view all the VIPs that smashed the wall that day, visit our coverage at the FMA Foundation website.
The final design for the 9,000-square-foot historic building is currently underway. Demolition is expected to begin in December. Once the design is complete, the Whiting-Turner Contracting Co., the general contractor for the project, will seek bids for subcontractors, materials and supplies. Contracts are expected to be awarded by the end of the year.
In the meantime, members of the FMA Military & Family Committee have been working hard to refine the Education and Resiliency kiosk that will help connect users to essential services and resources on and around Fort Meade.
CACI employees volunteered their time to code the kiosk, including a web-based version that can be accessed remotely. After a full review of the site by committee members and feedback from two focus groups, edits are currently underway to ensure ease of use and accuracy of information.
The CACI team also recently introduced a mobile version of the kiosk, which will be tested by users at an upcoming flu vaccine drive on Fort Meade. With continual improvements in mind, the committee has developed a three-minute survey that allows users to share their feedback. To access the kiosk, click here.
July 15, 2020 – The U.S Army has officially accepted the gift proffer that will allow construction to begin on the new Fort Meade Education and Resiliency Center. Last year, the gift proffer was submitted to the U.S. Department of the Army for its necessary process before construction could begin. The process included approvals by the Installation Management Command (IMCOM) and Army Material Command (AMC) and then on to the Secretary of the Army for submission to the U.S. Congress. The FMA Foundation will temporarily take over responsibility for the Army-owned Kuhn Hall for the length of the renovation (9 to 12 months) and then present the completed Education and Resiliency Center back to the Army. Read more about the official Wall Breaking Ceremony here.
February 13, 2020 – When we last left you, we were well on the way to making the renovation of Kuhn Hall into a Education and Resiliency Center a reality.
Here’s the latest…
Currently, the proffer is on its way to the U.S. Secretary of the Army Ryan D. McCarthy for his approval. This is the last step before it goes to Congress to be officially entered into the Congressional record. Once this takes place, the pre-construction phase of the renovation of Kuhn Hall can begin.
While we wait…The kiosk prototype, including its software, is being tested. The content is being refined and updated in anticipation of a rollout this summer.
In addition, we will debut a website containing the same content found on the kiosk — such as health, wellness and education resources, plus much more.
The Foundation is currently seeking funding for the nutritional cooking classes for military personnel and their families to begin by mid-year.
In addition, the Foundation is researching concepts for emergency mental health training for service personnel and their family members. This program will help military families deal with mental health issues providing them the tools to deescalate a crisis and help their family members gain a healthier mind.