JS Vig Builds Border Patrol Facility

JS Vig is constructing the first new border patrol office and station in the southern Michigan and northern Ohio region in 44 years.

The new facility—part of the secure borders initiative prompted after the events of September 11—is expected to be completed by the end of this year.
“We are revamping all border patrol stations right now,” says David Hicks, customs and borders project manager, United States government. “Last time it happened was in the 50s and 60s and everybody has outgrown those facilities.”
The current facility is located at Telegraph and I-75. “It was retrofitted and was a full working facility but is not up to today’s standards,” says Hicks.

“It’s definitely something that needed replacing terribly,” says Greg Barton, vice president, Genesis Financial Group, the developer of the project and future landlord of the new facility. “The new facility is roughly 17,500 square feet which is five, six times the existing facility so it’s a major expansion for them.”

The border patrol is going to need the room. “We’re gaining 6,000 border patrol agents between now and the end of 08 so we’ve outgrown facilities basically,” says Hicks. The new facility will house about 50 agents and will be a 24/7 facility.

The site is on the corner of West Jefferson and Middle Gibraltor Road on about 23 acres.

The facility is loaded with technology such as motion sensors and cameras and will include a helicopter pad in the back and a few detention cells. “It was a government facility so the security aspect was the most difficult,” says John Wilkie,Jr., Wilkie & Zanley Architects, Wyandotte.

The facility will be set back about 100 feet from the road with few windows. “Basically it’s a fortress,” says Wilkie. “It will have very limited access to the general public, its all function.”

Although security and functionality were the project’s main focuses, aesthetics were very significant to the community of Gibraltor. Wilkie says his team worked with what they had to make the building attractive.
“Because we could not do a lot design-wise, we used materials to pop the building out,” says Wilkie about the structural glaze block chosen for the exterior.

Because the site’s soil was unstable, JS Vig had to come up with a structural solution. “Normally you go onto a site and you dig a four-foot deep trench, put your concrete foundations in and you’re done,” says Dennis Levko, project manager, JS Vig. Because there was a layer of unstable soil, that was out of the question.

“There were two methods we could use to deal with it,” says Levko. One would have been to strip out 13 feet of material and then backfill with the stone and compactable material. “That would have been an insurmountable cost,” says Levko, who estimates it would have cost at least $250,000.
JS Vig decided to build the facility upon wooden pilings. “We just added piles to the project to the tune of $90,000. There are approximately 250 piles—timbers—that were installed, about 18 feet below grade.

“It was a huge cost savings for the owner and made the project possible.”

Genesis Financial chose JS Vig and Wilkie & Zanley for the project. “We have worked on hundreds of projects before,” says Wilkie.

“Our track record shows that we are a very good, cost effective team and able to get projects done as designed and on time,” says Levko. “They have been in business for over 50 years and we have been in business for 42, so we’ve got a great history of successful past projects together.”

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“With its tremendously skilled, hard-working team, J.S. Vig Construction helped fulfill the vision that the City of Romulus had in mind when we set out to build the Romulus Athletic Center. Thanks to J.S. Vig, the Romulus Athletic Center is now a beautiful, award-winning and popular athletic facility that has become the jewel in Romulus' crown.”

Tim Keyes
City of Romulus

“It has been a pleasure working with J.S. Vig on numerous projects over the past few years. They exhibit professionalism and honesty in their work, along with a willingness to look at options and alternate approaches to make project happen and succeed.”

David Esau, AIA, LEED AP
Cornerstone Design Inc

“ J.S. Vig is a company that is easy to work with because of their integrity. Our two firms have prospered from an over 30-year relationship, including many projects and personnel, which could not have happened without ongoing dedication to quality and honesty.”

David Zanely, LEED AP
Wilkie & Zanley Architects, A Sidock Company

“I have enjoyed over a 20-year relationship, built on honesty and professionalism, with J.S. Vig Construction Company.”

John Wilkie, AIA
Wilkie & Zanely Architects, A Sidock Company

“J. S. Vig Construction Company has built over 500,000 sf for Avis Farms. We have found their staff and subcontractors to be honest, creative and responsive in meeting our aggressive project goals.”

Trish Kalmbach
BOSC Equities

“…Simply one of the most organized and talented construction teams that I have had the pleasure of working with in 25 years.”

Greg Heil
President, Heil Partnership

“J.S. Vig Construction Company is honest, efficient, responsive, and completes each project with the client's needs in mind.”

Jerry Reinhart
President, Pomeroy Investment Company

“While this was an extremely difficult project in terms of phasing and working around our children, the employees of J.S. Vig did an outstanding job!”

Kurt M. Sebaly M. Ed.
Pentickton Center for Blind Children

“Through the entire pre-construction and warranty phases, your people have been responsive, professional, and cost-efficient. I would welcome the opportunity to recommend your firm and look forward to working together in the future.”

Larry Reed
Metavante Corporation