NATO opens allied special forces HQ
Lt. Col. Michelle Garcia, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Europe District deputy commander, presents a commemorative key plaque to Lt. Gen. Frank Kisner, NATO Special Operations Headquarters commander, following the unit’s headquarters facility ribbon-cutting at SHAPE in Mons, Belgium Dec. 12, 2012. NATO special operations forces, comprised of 26 member nations and 3 non-NATO partners, completed a new, state-of-the-art 23,000-square-foot administrative headquarters building. The USACE-managed $19 million project was completed in 23 months through a partnership with the joint venture contractors Bilfinger-Berger and Besix. During construction, 116 local subcontractors and suppliers were involved and local building materials were utilized. The facility meets strict environmental and energy savings standards and is U.S. Green Buildings Council LEED Silver certifiable.