GARYSBURG — Building construction plans at the North Carolina Center for Automotive Research (NCCAR) site is continuing to move full steam ahead.

The second of three construction contracts has been launched for Phase 1A of NCCAR’s automotive research, development and testing facilities.

The recent contract solicitation is for construction of the center’s 23,620 square-foot engineering, garage and administration building and the site entry security building.

Project architectural firm AKTAI of Raleigh issued the notice to plan houses and contractors. The notice was published statewide on Sunday.

“From day one, the NCCAR board of directors has insisted that the Center’s facilities be built to anticipate and accommodate the future generation research, development and testing requirements of the international automotive industry,” said Tim Kurmaskie, President of AKTAI. “In meeting that intent, we’ve closely consulted with the project team and the State Construction Office and the resulting design fully meets the challenge of blending industry demand with state objectives.”

The Phase 1A operations building will include six fully-equipped, double-bay client garages with integrated offices, secure storage, three engineering suites with individual offices, bull-pen areas and conferencing facilities.

NCCAR officials describe the facility as being designed to provide clients a very user-friendly environment for conveniently, efficiently and effectively conducting their work.

“The design integrates office, garage and support functions such that engineers and technicians can conduct their work at NCCAR as if they were working at their own facilities,” said NCCAR Chief Operating Officer Simon Cobb. “Plus, fully-secure high-speed internet connectivity in the operations building, coupled with WiFi which will be available across the site, will provide for virtually seamless communications and data transmission.”

Project officials have scheduled a Dec. 16 mandatory 10 a.m. onsite visit and 2 p.m. pre-bid conference for potential building contractors, and intend to conduct the bid-opening on January 29, 2009.

Officials also commented that site construction continues to proceed steadily, with great progress on earthworks for the ride and handling course and integrated vehicle dynamics area, which is also part of Phase 1A of the project.

NCCAR is an independent, non-profit center devised to meet product research, testing and development demands of the automotive industry.