Two major construction firms have been selected to transform Coast Guard facilities along the East Coast in what represents the largest shore construction investment in the maritime agency's history.
The U.S. Coast Guard announced on May 7 that Baltimore-based Whiting-Turner will receive two contracts totaling $516.7 million, while Birmingham, Alabama-based Brasfield & Gorrie secured an additional $95.5 million contract. The work will significantly expand and modernize Coast Guard Training Center Cape May in New Jersey and Base Charleston in South Carolina.
Cape May Training Center Expansion
The most substantial investment will transform Training Center Cape May, also known as TRACEN Cape May, with up to $400 million in improvements. Currently, the facility can train up to 5,500 recruits annually without temporary modifications. Once the upgrades are completed by 2030, that capacity will increase to 8,000 recruits.
The ambitious project includes construction of new barracks buildings to house the increased recruit population, along with a multi-purpose training facility that will feature seamanship training areas, an indoor graduation space, an indoor track, and a new drill hall. The facility will also receive a state-of-the-art fire station to replace a building dating back to the 1920s, complete with modern ventilation systems allowing all fire apparatus to be stored together indoors.
Additional improvements include a new VIP review stand, grandstands with cantilevered shading, a new parade path, and a new galley. Two existing barracks, James and Healy Halls, will be demolished as part of the modernization effort.
"By improving infrastructure and quality of life, we are not only strengthening our workforce but also enhancing our readiness and ability to carry out critical missions that protect the nation's maritime interests," said Capt. Amanda Lee, commanding officer of Training Center Cape May.
Charleston Base Modernization
At Base Charleston, Whiting-Turner will undertake a complete recapitalization of Pier Mike under a $116.7 million fixed-price, design-build contract. The project involves demolishing the existing pier and replacing it with a modern structure designed to homeport four offshore patrol cutters and one visiting cutter. Each berth will also accommodate national security cutters, providing enhanced strategic flexibility for the fleet. This work is expected to be completed in 2030.
Brasfield & Gorrie will contribute to the Charleston improvements with a $95.5 million project to design and build a 30,000-square-foot combined medical and dental facility, along with a new entry control point and visitor's center. That project is scheduled for completion by July 2029.
Historic Investment in Coast Guard Infrastructure
Funding for these upgrades comes from the Working Families Tax Cut Act, a provision of the One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act. The Cape May project alone represents the largest shore construction award in Coast Guard history, underscoring the federal government's commitment to modernizing military training and operational facilities.
Both contractors have established relationships with the Coast Guard. Last September, Whiting-Turner received a $137 million contract to modernize Base Seattle in Washington and a $69 million contract for two new membrane tension hangars at Air Station Barbers Point in Kapolei, Hawai'i. Meanwhile, Brasfield & Gorrie has been awarded $342.2 million in jobs under a multiple award contract with the Coast Guard since 2023, according to government contracting tracker HigherGov.
These investments signal a broader effort to ensure Coast Guard facilities can meet the demands of modern maritime security operations while providing improved living and working conditions for service members who protect our nation's waters and coastlines.
