Federal and Military

Supporting Federal and Military Infrastructure

AHBL provides multidisciplinary site development and infrastructure solutions to the United States government and military agencies. Our design teams work across civil engineering, structural engineering, landscape architecture, land use planning, and land surveying to deliver projects that meet federal standards, provide for long-term facility operations, and accommodate mission-driven requirements.

With decades of experience as a federal engineering firm on military installations and government campuses across Washington State, we bring disciplined coordination and a practical understanding of federal design and construction processes.

See Our Work
Federal and State Military Projects We Deliver

AHBL works with the Department of Defense (DoD) service branches including Department of Army, Army National Guard, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Marine Corps. We also work with federal Agencies including but not limited to Veterans Affairs (VA), Washington State Military Department (WMD), Washington State Department of Enterprise Services, U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the U.S. State Department.

We have completed more than 300 projects of all scopes: ranging from task orders on Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ), Multiple Award Construction Contract (MACC), Multiple Award Task Order Contract (MATOC), Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) contracts to larger-scale design-build efforts. Recognized as Firm of the Year by the Mount Tacoma Post of the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME), AHBL is well-versed in UFC standards, AT/FP design, and sustainable site development.

Our experience includes:

  • Design for essential and mission-critical facilities
  • Design for new construction
  • Force protection and access improvements
  • Renovation and modernization of existing structures
  • Roadway and pavement design
  • Seismic evaluations, retrofits, and facility and site condition assessments
  • Site development for new and renovated federal facilities
  • Site enhancements that enhance security and long-term maintenance
  • Site feasibility studies and assessments for future development
  • Utility upgrades, water systems, and stormwater infrastructure

Our teams understand the technical standards, security considerations, and approval pathways that shape Federal and military engineering projects. On active military installations, we collaborate closely with stakeholders to ensure designs are constructible, compliant, and aligned with installation operations.

See the Vision Come to Life

  • Basic Combat Training Unaccompanied Enlisted Personnel Housing

    Four, three-story housing facilities to support BCT soldiers

  • Camp Murray Primary Entry Gate and Roadway

    New entry location eases congestion and provides safer access

  • McChord Field Fire Station Design

    Award‑winning modernization preserving historic character and essential facility performance

  • Northwestern Joint Regional Correctional Facility

    New 66,000 SF correctional facility on Joint Base Lewis-McChord

  • Veteran Affairs Imaging and Radiology Clinic – Vancouver Campus

    Replacement Imaging and Radiology Building that complements the existing medical campus

See More Federal and DOD Projects

How We Work with Federal and State Military Agencies

AHBL provides federal and military partners with clear documentation, consistent coordination, and design solutions that meet agency standards and installation requirements. Because we live and work in the communities surrounding these installations, we understand the local jurisdictions, utilities, and permitting processes that federal projects must navigate. That regional knowledge helps us anticipate issues early and keep projects on track.

Clear Coordination and Documentation

We prepare consistent, accurate plans and technical documents that contribute to federal design reviews, permitting coordination with local jurisdictions, and military construction requirements. Our teams emphasize clarity and alignment with agency standards and expectations.

Federal and Military Standards Alignment

AHBL works closely with federal partners to ensure compliance with applicable UFC, installation design guides, and local and regional requirements. We collaborate with contractors and consultants to streamline approvals and maintain momentum throughout the project lifecycle.

Stakeholder and Agency Collaboration

Federal projects require input from multiple users, facility managers, and command groups. AHBL facilitates clear communication across all stakeholders to ensure site improvements and infrastructure upgrades meet operational and maintenance needs.

Constructability and Long-Term Maintenance

Our designs consider long-term performance, sustainability, and maintenance requirements from the outset. We help federal agencies implement solutions that are practical to maintain and aligned with both immediate mission needs and long-range installation planning.
  • Our Services
    Our Core Services

    AHBL combines technical expertise with disciplined project delivery to partner with agencies on complex federal and military programs through:

    • Civil Engineering
    • Structural Engineering
    • Landscape Architecture
    • Land Use Planning
    • Land Surveying
  • Civil Engineering

    Across essential infrastructure as varied as grading, stormwater management, water, sewer, and utility coordination, our civil engineers provide foundational site design for military installations and federal facilities. We develop systems that comply with Unified Facilities Criteria (UFC) standards and installation-specific requirements, providing base operations, training facilities, housing, administrative buildings, and other essential infrastructure.

  • Structural Engineering

    Our structural team designs resilient structural systems for federal and military buildings, site structures, and mission-critical support facilities. We are experienced with Unified Facilities Criteria (UFC) and other federal agency design standards and material specifications that include anti-terrorism/force protection criteria, seismic requirements, and local military installation design standards.

  • Landscape Architecture

    AHBL’s landscape architects design outdoor environments that enhance functionality and provide durable, low-maintenance solutions suited to long-term operations. Our work includes planting design, pedestrian circulation, outdoor gathering areas, and stormwater-integrated landscapes that ensure sustainability and mission readiness.

  • Land Use Planning

    Our planners support federal partners with feasibility studies, development alternatives, regulatory coordination, SEPA-related requirements for federally funded work in Washington, and alignment with surrounding local jurisdictions. We help clarify development pathways, identify site constraints, and contribute to early-stage decision-making for federal and military projects.

  • Land Surveying

    Accurate survey data is essential for secure and mission-critical facilities. AHBL provides boundary, topographic, and construction project surveying; utility research based on record data; and construction staking for site development and infrastructure upgrades. Our survey teams work efficiently in active military installations and federal agency environments while maintaining strict accuracy and documentation standards.