Pershing Barracks has stood at West Point since 1895. The facility was designed by renowned architect Richard Morris Hunt and named for one of the most influential military leaders in American history. When the United States Military Academy set out to modernize its oldest and most historically significant barracks as part of its $600 million Barracks Upgrade Program, the mandate was clear: bring the building into the 21st century without compromising the architecture that makes it irreplaceable.
Kokolakis completed a full renovation of the 124,692 SF, four-story-plus-basement facility, transforming it into a modern residential environment housing 270 cadets across 135 rooms. The scope covered nearly every inch of the building: new MEP systems, blast-resistant windows, updated finishes, fully renovated bathrooms, hazardous material abatement, and complete replacement of electrical, fire protection, data, security, and HVAC infrastructure. Exterior work included a new roof, masonry and limestone restoration, structural stabilization, and water infiltration remediation.
Historic restoration extended to the building’s defining architectural features: the iconic clock tower was fully restored, a long-missing gargoyle returned to its original position, and the granite retaining wall was carefully dismantled and rebuilt block by block to correct structural bowing while preserving its original appearance.
The project earned an Exceptional CPARS rating from USACE and took home two awards in 2019, ENR New York’s Regional Best Project for Renovation/Restoration and the New York City Construction Award for Regeneration Project of the Year.
