Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) Europe Africa Central (EURAFCENT) awarded a $117 million Design-Bid-Build firm-fixed-price military construction (MILCON) contract, Nov. 30, 2023, to ICM SPA for Army Family Housing project, Phase 4 (Vicenza) at U.S. Army Garrison, Italy.

Work will be part of the U.S. Army’s largest family housing project, the $470 million Villaggio housing area near Caserma Ederle. This Phase 4 family housing project includes 107 Army family units.

“NAVFAC EURAFCENT is dedicated to advancing strategic goals for USAG Vicenza, enhancing the well-being of warfighters and their families,” Barry Forbes, NAVFAC EURAFCENT’s chief engineer, said. “The awarding of this MILCON for Villaggio’s phase four underscores our commitment to a culture of excellence, and we eagerly anticipate the successful completion of this project.”

When completed, 478 families will live in townhouses and apartments nearly twice the size of the previous units.

The new homes on Villaggio are conveniently collocated with all three of the Department of Defense Education Activity schools, including the brand-new Vicenza High School, which opened in September 2023. The new housing will feature many upgrades, including photo-voltaic panels for energy savings, garages and the capacity to support the future installment of electric car charging stations.

“This is a big win for the Vicenza Military Community and represents the Army commitment to ensure our service members and their families have world-class housing available,” Col. Scott W. Horrigan, commander, U.S. Army Garrison-Italy, said. “The intent behind the Villagio housing project is to create a purpose-built community for our families with easy access to our schools, childcare and the services we provide. Our entire community will undoubtedly benefit from the investment the Army is making and is a concrete example of how the Army put our Soldier and their families first.”

The DoD’s MILCON program includes all work necessary to produce complete and usable facilities or to complete functional improvements to existing facilities in support of DoD Components.

“Countless hours of planning, designing and programing have gone into each of the phases. Many thanks to the Army-Navy team that made this program a reality,” Cmdr. Jon Horner, Resident Office in Charge of Construction Northern Italy, said. ” As construction becomes the main effort, it is exciting to observe my team’s unwavering commitment as this new and stunning community begins to take shape. When complete, this will be a world class community and one of the most sought out locations for military families throughout all of Europe.”

The Vicenza’s Army family project has five phases. The fifth and final phase will include a community center, which will be awarded in 2027. Later phases of the program are projected to be completed between 2026 and 2028.

About Naval Facilities Engineering Command Europe Africa Central

NAVFAC EURAFCENT manages facility project planning and design, including all related acquisition, construction, leasing, environmental, maintenance, and contingency support required by the Navy and Department of Defense commands where the Navy is designated as the lead agent in Europe, Southwest Asia, and the Gulf of Guinea, Africa, and the Horn of Africa. Subordinate Public Works Departments in Bahrain; Devesulu, Romania; Djibouti; Naples, Italy; Redzikowo, Poland; Rota, Spain; Sigonella, Italy; Souda Bay, Greece, provide facilities support service to each installation throughout the area of responsibility, and employs approximately 1,200 military, government civilians, local nationals and contractors.