Construction on the future United States Army Corps of
Engineers Far East District headquarters building began as ground was ceremonially
broken June 20 on land adjacent to U.S. Army Garrison
Humphreys.
The building will offer a central location for district
employees to provide the day to day administrative, construction and engineering
services in the Republic of Korea.
“I think it’s historic that we have broken ground on a
brand new headquarters building that will be completed around the time the
district celebrates its 60th birthday,” said Col. Bryan S. Green, district
engineer and commander.
Brig. Gen. Kang Chang-koo, Director General of Program Management,
Ministry of Defense United States Forces Korea Relocation Office, said the
teamwork between the district and MURO since the Land Partnership and Yongsan Relocation
Plan agreements were signed in 2004 has been excellent.
“Many challenges, big and small, lie ahead of us, but I’m
not worried because we as a team are strong enough to accomplish the mission,”
said Kang. “Thanks to our partnership the Yongsan Relocation Plan is now [well
underway].”
At the ceremony a three-person shovel, used in
construction in the mid- to late-20th century in Korea, symbolized
the close partnership between the Far East District and its Korean partners.
“One of the first pictures taken in district history in
1957 was of three Koreans from [contracting firm] Daelim [Industrial] operating
a three-person shovel,” said Green.
Representatives from Daelim, which will build the new
facility, United States Forces Korea Base Relocation Project Management Office,
and Korea Land and Housing Corporation joined Green to mark the occasion and
help bury a time capsule, which will be opened at the building’s ribbon
cutting.
“We used a piece of the past to bury a guest book filled
with messages to welcome the future residents of the building,” said Green.
The building is scheduled to be completed by the end of
2016.