Let's talk about "the AIT NOC" in Neihu

Politics Taiwan Politics
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When it is completed in 2015, the code-named “AIT New Office Compound” in Neihu commissioned by the State Department will host very impressive architecture and landscape designs. On the other hand, what functions it will host is not as clear. So I like to invite discussions in this thread about every topic that the NOC inspires. Non-evidence based speculation is surely welcome :sunglasses:

First let’s look at the bidding solicitation for “the AIT NOC” from the State Department.
[b]
https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=a1a76e23ead48e5a4e489ad671e2aa38&tab=core&_cview=0

Solicitation Number: SAQMMA-12-R0074
Notice Type: Sources Sought
Synopsis: Added: Dec 09, 2011 8:53 am
Department of State 2012 Design-Build Contract for American Institute Taiwan (AIT) New Office Compound Phase 2
RFP SAQMMA-12-R0074
Notice of Solicitation of Submissions for Contractor Pre-Qualification

THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE (DOS), Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO) is requesting submissions to pre-qualify firms for Design-Build (D/B) services for the second of two phases for the design and construction of a New Office Compound (NOC) in Taipei, Taiwan. This project will be executed under OBO’s Design Excellence Program (state.gov/obo/designexcellence/). The project will consist of the design and construction of a compound to house functions in Taipei, Taiwan.

This NOC project is being executed using two separate design-build contracts. The D/B contract for American Institute in Taipei (AIT) NOC Phase 1 was awarded on March 20, 2009, and consisted of:

• Sitework and paving for the entire NOC site
• Site utilities
• Parking garage
• Guard quarters facility
• Consular and Service Compound Access Control (CAC) facilities
• Perimeter walls and fences
• Site technical security system (TSS) infrastructure (conduits, pull boxes, etc).

This announcement concerns the D/B contract for AIT NOC Phase 2 only and is described below.

  1. Project Description (Secret Facility and Personnel Security Clearances Required)
    SAQMMA-12-R0074: Taipei, Taiwan NOC Phase 2:

The AIT NOC Phase 2 project will consist of the design and construction of a 16,860 square-meter, 5-level new office building, a 3,861 square-meter, 3-level maintenance building, a 339 square-meter main compound access control facility, and portions of a compound for the American Institute in Taipei (AIT). The NOC Phase 2 project scope is described below and may include:

• Utilities and infrastructure for the NOC Phase 2 buildings (to tie-in to NOC Phase 1 construction)
• Landscaping for the entire NOC site
• Site technical security systems, including wiring and equipment (using infrastructure installed in NOC Phase 1)
• All components of a New Office Building (NOB), Maintenance Building, and Main Compound Access Control Facility, including foundations, structures, building envelopes, exterior finishes, interior finishes, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, communications systems, and technical security systems.
• Pedestrian bridge between NOB and Consular CAC (to tie-in to NOC Phase 1 construction)
• Furniture and signage for the entire compound (including facilities constructed as part of NOC Phase 1)
• Commissioning of all compound buildings and systems to function as a single facility (including systems completed and successfully tested at the end of NOC Phase 1 construction).

Approximate Site Size: 45,717 square meters. NOC Phase 2 building footprint area: 6,156 square meters. Estimated design-build cost: $110 - $145 million.

The constructed compound will demonstrate an elevated standard of design quality for diplomatic facilities in its architecture, engineering, and construction. OBO requires that the completed compound be sustainable with high-performance facilities. The design requirements documents, which will be provided by OBO in the Project Solicitation Phase II, are an example of OBO’s commitment to Design Excellence.[/b]

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I suspect it will house their consular operations. Purely speculation though!

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I would not be at ALL surprised if the complex serves as the de facto US Embassy in Taiwan in the absence of formal diplomatic ties. Just a wild guess, though.

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There will be a large number of US Marines.

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There may be a contingent of US Marines INSIDE the perimeter dressed in civilian clothes and “on loan” from the Marine corps.

It is going to be nice new digs for the A.I.T. pure and simple , no nuclear missiles aimed at China installed by TW local contractors (they couldnt get the local tsway tien boys to install anything that worked outside of a few hot water heaters).

All very ho-hum actually.

But now with fewer Americans living in Taiwan (being superseded eventually by brits) and with visa free entry to the USA. They may look into getting a SMALLER complex, not a BIG ONE like in Neihu. Because what the heck is there to do there anyways?

NO visa processing, no big office is needed for American citizens to apply for anything.

It could all be done with one 100ping office :slight_smile:

80 ping for the director and 20 ping for two clerks to process the wonton application for anything ?

Im kidding, it would have to be 150 ping total. 80 pings for the AIT bossman to entertain guests with one marine guard (on loan ) and 2 clerks processing stuff outside and one local TW policeman at the front door. :smiley:

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I think there will be a special Alleycats inside just for VIPs.

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I seen the movie national treasure it’s gonna be their new fort knox.
The maintenance building?

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How large will it be? 500 would be too many for guarding a consular service and too little for invading China. So exactly what purpose those marines will be used for? Interesting!

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This is the oddest thing about the NOC. Down-sized is the staff and super-sized is the building. Why? Only Batman has operated in this way prior to the NOC.

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There will be a 5 level building (called NOB New Office Building) and a 3 level building (called Maintenance Building) with a total of 20k sqaure meter floor area. Mighty large! Is there any function that you like to add to this main building, on top of Allycat? Maybe an English Bushiban for TOEL, TOEIC, SAT, GRE, GMAT, … the list goes on.

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most of it is slated to be a KTV ?

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I just talked to an AIT insider about the “Marines.” He snorted and laughed. I thought he was being extemely polite. But he DID say, on condition of utmost secrecy, that there will be 10 storeys underground that will house a helipad, a marine base for Navy destroyers with specially designed underground tunnels that reach to Hualien, barracks for 500,000 American troops, and even a 7-11 that sells only burritoes. :unamused:

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No death ray?

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Shhhhh! :astonished:

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ON buritos ? What bout enchiladas?

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Too controversial.

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Sharks with frickin laser beams on their heads?

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One wishes that, like the old country, they would have a large, huge library with ALL books in English, a theater, a cultural exchange venue of sorts. One wishes…

Of course, that area is separate from the visa and passport processing offices, which is a bunker within a fort within a secutity complex. For example, after the frisking at the entrance, you have to walk about 500 meter on open ground, with guards in towers watching you like a hawk. Of course, we did bomb the last building they had, so, paisei, they might feel a bit threatened. :smiley:

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I hear an Election medical centre will occupy most of the space. I’ve read, generally many Americans suffer from foot injuries where they have been, according to doctors, “repeatedly stomping them up and down,” and many suffer from excessive, “putting their feet down,” in policy discussions/ interpretations of statistics. Similarly American fists suffer in election times with them being over exuberantly waved in peoples faces or slammed down on keyboards. Many also have trouble digesting all the shit they have been forcing down their throats both by their own hands and also by the hands of friends, family and media. Finally, a post-election trauma facility will be implemented for those dealing with injuries ranging from shattered dream complex to broken promise syndrome and swollen pride obstructions.

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Transformers.

Lots of them.