Supporting London's Sustainable Future: EARTH with John Holden

Named “one of Guam’s most significant construction projects of 2018” by the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), the X-Ray Wharf improvements included expanding and strengthening the 742-foot berthing complex at Apra Harbor on Naval Base Guam.

Constructed at the end of World War II in support of aid and recovery for western Europe and Japan, X-Ray Wharf is now more than 65 years old, and its north berth, which services the U.S. Navy’s modern cargo ship fleet, needed rehabilitation and modernization.

Jacobs served as designer-of-record for the project, providing engineering, design, and construction phase services for the effort that included a new sheet pile bulkhead with tie-back system, dredging and new concrete and AC paving to strengthen the relieving platform area.

X-Ray Wharf facilitates safe loading and unloading and critical Navy operations in the Pacific Rim and our cost-effective design improves, strengthens and increases the life span of the wharf, maintaining its ability to reliably serve into the future. The design accounted for the wharf’s new 140-ton mobile crane, as well as challenging geotechnical conditions.

The AGC awarded the project its 2018 Construction Risk Partners Build America Award for best new Federal and Heavy New Project.

“Our port designers partnered and collaborated with the project contractor, Guam MACC Builders JV and the Navy to successfully deliver this complex project within a tight schedule,” said Jacobs Project Manager Milind Desai. “Our collaborative efforts will not only improve safe and efficient operations but will also ensure X-Ray Wharf’s legacy into the future and this award is a testament to that.”

The Build America Awards are AGC’s most prestigious recognition program. A panel of judges, representing all areas of construction, evaluated the submissions and selected the winning projects by assessing their complexity, use of innovative construction techniques and client satisfaction, among other criteria.

The awards recognize AGC members for “impressive construction projects ranging across the building, highway and transportation, utility infrastructure, and federal and heavy divisions. These projects, with their vision, scope and grandeur, literally dare to challenge, dare to change the industry and way we build,” said AGC's Past President, J. Doug Pruitt.