Cyber Fusion Center

Norwich University, Northfield, VT

This project represents an exciting opportunity for Jones to continue the legacy work on Norwich’s campus, and to break new barriers. The CFC will be a multi-use facility, housing both Norwich and NUARI (Norwich University Applied Research Institute) programs and acting as a flexible R&D facility that will bring the information advantage discussion to Central Vermont. Occupants will be engaged in cybersecurity, information dominance, computing, AI, machine learning, and information warfare. Program will include a security situation center, collaborative office, work, meeting, and event space; classrooms; and media lab for producing and editing content generated by the university and its partners. The project has a sustainability goal of LEED Silver.

 

Navigating BABAA: What Owners Need to Know—And How Design Teams Can Help
By Marc Perras and Alya Staber, Jones Architecture

If you’re exploring federal funding for a new building or renovation, the Buy America Build America Act (BABAA) is no longer a footnote—it’s a governing framework that shapes design, procurement, and documentation from day one. We’ve been living this reality on recent higher-education projects, including Norwich University’s Cyber Fusion Center, and our biggest takeaway is simple: success with BABAA is as much about process as it is about product.

At its core, BABAA requires that iron and steel, construction materials, and many manufactured products used on federally funded projects be domestically produced, with proof. The intent is sound—strengthening U.S. supply chains, supporting jobs, and, by shortening transport distances, reducing environmental impact. The challenge is that compliance isn’t a single box to check: it’s a series of decisions and verifications that extend from schematic design through closeout.

Owners and design teams who wait until submittals to think about BABAA are already behind. On our projects, we’ve learned that compliance must be embedded in the DNA of the work. Potential high-risk scopes such as exterior cladding, mechanical and electrical systems, and specialty finishes need to be identified early, with supplier research beginning before a basis of design is set. Specifications must be written intentionally—naming manufacturers vetted for compliance rather than those that simply fit aesthetic or performance goals—and documentation has to be gathered along the way. Signed letters of certification from manufacturers should accompany submittals; a “BABAA compliant” icon on a cut sheet isn’t enough.

Federal tools can help. The NIST supplier-scouting database connects design teams with domestic manufacturers, but it requires lead time. Bringing a construction manager on early is equally important; a traditional design-bid-build process makes it difficult to verify alternates, validate supply chains, and stay on schedule. In some cases, owners must apply for waivers—whether for non-availability or disproportionate cost—if a compliant product simply doesn’t exist. Those applications demand evidence, so the paper trail has to start in design, not during construction.

There’s no question that BABAA adds effort and cost. Research time for design teams increases, and domestically sourced materials can be 10–15 percent more expensive. But as with the early years of LEED, the industry is learning, manufacturers are responding, and compliant options are growing. In our view, the long-term benefits—to institutions, to American manufacturing, and to the planet—justify the investment.

At Norwich, most architectural materials were straightforward: drywall, fasteners, and many interior finishes were readily available. The real challenges came in mechanical, electrical, and envelope systems, where global supply chains are deeply entrenched. By committing early to compliant products, verifying with manufacturers rather than relying on reps, and maintaining a live register of every certification and waiver, we delivered a fully compliant project without compromising design integrity.

For owners, the message is clear: if federal dollars are part of your funding stack, design your project with BABAA in mind from day one. Ask your architect how compliance will be structured in the specifications, how manufacturers will be verified, and how documentation will be managed through closeout. The learning curve is steep but with an experienced team, it’s manageable.

At Jones, we see BABAA not as a burden but as an evolution in responsible building—one that supports U.S. industry, advances sustainability, and rewards foresight. Having been through the process, we’re ready to help institutions navigate it confidently and build a future that’s both locally made and nationally beneficial.

• GREEN FACTOR:

  LEED Silver target, focus on maximizing light and all products manufactured domestically.

• TEAM:

  Jessie Bennett
  Rick Jones
  Michael Ohrman
  Marc Perras
  Angela Plante
  Jake Springer
  Alya Staber
  Christian Strom

• COLLABORATORS:

  Associate Architect:
  Freeman French Freeman