Iraqi Ministry of Defense Renovation, International Zone
– AFCEE Blue Rating, Design Build Institute of America 2006 Merit Award Winner.

Laguna Construction Company, Inc., at the time an 8(a) Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB) wholly-owned by the Laguna Indian Tribe of Laguna, New Mexico, competed for and won the Cost Plus Fixed Fee AFCEE Iraq Task Order 0002 to Rebuild the Iraqi Ministry of Defense (MoD).  Final construction costs were $31,462,205.00.

This rebuild Iraq, mission-critical project, which was to become the working location of Iraq’s Minister of Defense, his staff, and Coalition Forces, once housed the King of Iraq.  After the monarchy was overthrown, it became the new Government’s Vice Pr esidential palace, and home to Saddam Hussein until he became President and completed his larger, Presidential Palace also located in the current International Zone.  This known hiding place of Saddam Hussein was bombed in the original Gulf War and was an initial strike of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003.

Rebuilding this palace was performed in two major phases.  Phase I involved the southernmost wings of the palace, which sustained major architectural damage as a result of the bombing.  It sustained further structural damage by coalition forces that detonated explosives within the building in order to gain access to large, steel vaults.  Laguna Construction was challenged to renovate this portion of the building in less than 30 days, in order for the Minister of Defense and his immediate staff (over 300 people) to relocate from an adjacent abandoned school to the more secure confines of the palace.  Laguna Construction completed this task in just over four weeks, despite the complications inherent with this type and size of renovation.

	Phase II of the MoD restoration included the central and northern portions of the structure, which were reduced to rubble by two Tomahawk Cruise Missiles and a JDAM Bunker Buster.  This phase of construction would incorporate a wide range of design and construction skills working together to complete the project in the timeframe allotted for the task.  The existing structure, built of brick, mortar and rock, with fine marble finishes and gold fixtures, originally housed a staff of 30 people and was to be rebuilt (to western standards using available materials and labor) to house almost 2,000 people.
	To meet the task, Laguna Construction overcame obstacles such as secure access control for subcontracted Iraqi labor and material deliveries.  Limiting factors included the availability of materials and labor at the local markets, local contracting and building procedures to ensure the quality of the product, safety of the workers, and operational procedures.  To complete the MoD project, Laguna Construction’s workforce was nearly 98% Iraqi and included architects, engineers, site managers, site security, skilled craftsmen, and laborers.  Laguna Construction completed this project, commissioning the MoD and delivering to the Iraqi Ministry of Defense in nine months, on time and on budget. Fast-track, on-time, on-budget renovation under austere and hostile conditions, including regular insurgent attack. Phase II of construction was completed while the southern-most portion of the palace (Phase I) was operational and occupied by MoD staff and Coalition forces. American standards for safety and quality were indoctrinated and embraced by a 100% Iraqi labor force—of up to 2,100 people daily (working multiple shifts, 7 days a week, 20 hours per day)—who continue to utilize these practices. Design Build ingenuity included erecting a steel structure within the brick framework, allowing it to maintain its pre-war grandeur with highly-improved structural integrity. Constructed 335,000 sf., multi-story building without the use of a tower crane (unavailable at that time in Iraq). All design and construction decisions were driven by material and craftsmen availability