USMA Davis Barracks

Davis Barracks combines contextual sensitivity with modern, 21st-century design. As part of a “Grow the Army” campaign, the new 287,000-square-foot, six-story co-ed barracks meets the U.S. Military Academy’s (USMA) aspiration for contemporary residential living while honoring the campus’s iconic Military Gothic architectural heritage.

As part of a joint venture team, STV led the design effort, developing enhanced bridging documents for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). The team established the building’s site design, massing, structural approach and architectural expression, streamlining approval from the New York State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO).

Situated at the midpoint of a rocky hillside, STV recommended the site for its iconic view corridors, adherence to required security setbacks, manageable rock excavation and workable access for infrastructure and service. STV crafted the design in West Point’s signature Military Gothic style, featuring hand-set granite and limestone detailing to adorn the robust, imposing structure while ample double-glazed insulated windows and daylighting enhance the student experience. A ceremonial courtyard at the bold, six-story front entrance serves as the morning muster assembly space for cadets.

Initially providing swing space during campus renovations, the facility accommodates five companies of cadets (650 total cadets) – each occupying a single contiguous floor – with double-occupancy bedrooms, ancillary dayrooms, study lounges, a battalion meeting room and offices. The ground floor houses cadet storage lockers, battalion administrative suites and space for a future chiller plant.

The LEED Silver-certified building integrates renewable energy strategies including passive solar design principles, transpired solar collectors and hot water solar panels on the roof. Energy-efficient radiant heating and cooling is optimized with zoning based on building exposure, and per-floor energy metering encourages friendly competition among cadet cohorts to reduce energy consumption.

To meet Anti-Terrorism/Force Protection (AT/FP) requirements, STV’s structural engineers designed a system that combines flat plate slabs, perimeter beams, shear walls and load-bearing monolithic granite block facades, all carefully coordinated with the building’s programmatic and aesthetic goals.