What is ARFF? It’s an acronym for Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport’s (DCA) latest addition - Airport Rescue and Firefighting Facility #301. TMG recently completed this large and complex project for the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA). ARFF #301 provides emergency services to the entire DCA campus. The contract was awarded to TMG in May 2007 and was ready for occupancy in September of 2008. The official certificate of substantial completion was issued in October of 2008.

The new ARFF station is designed to accommodate a 22-person fire-rescue shift and related equipment. The 23,000 SF base building consists of a shimmering six-bay, steel-framed facility with corrugated metal siding and single-ply membrane roof system. Interior components consist of an integrated security system, decontamination areas, dorm rooms and all the amenities of a luxury hotel -- including a gourmet commercial kitchen, gym and recreation room with a plasma TV. Related work for the project also included construction of new building-related utilities, stormwater collection, parking lots and building approaches.

TMG self-performed all site work on the project, including excavation, installation of water, sanitary sewer, and storm water lines, finish grading, and other associated site infrastructure. Key subcontractors included Jett Mechanical, Commercial Power, Arlington Iron Works, Cavalier Fire Protection, Gull Corporation, Pro-Pave, Rick’s Iron Works, Plan-It Granite & Marble, Art Creations, Platinum Exteriors, Tyson Floors, Target Masonry, Compel Construction, and Delta Painting, among others.

The new ARFF is already making history. In addition to being the first base building project at DCA in seven years, the facility was recently the location for recent secret talks with Defense Secretary Robert Gates. According to Reuters News Service, President-Elect Obama scheduled the clandestine meeting there in November 2008 to discuss keeping Gates on at the Pentagon under his new administration. No doubt, the two men admired TMG's excellent handiwork as they sealed the deal inside the gleaming new facility.