Actus says it provides homes that military families deserve. It is building the $2.3 billion Army Hawaii Family Housing Project, the world’s largest solar-powered community.

A leader in military housing privatization and construction, Actus Lend Lease says it takes construction to the next level. With more than 30,000 residential units in its portfolio, Actus partners with high-profile institutions such as the Department of the Army through its Military Housing Privatization Initiative (MHPI) program.

“We strive to create a neighborhood and a strong sense of community for military families,” explains Dale Connor, executive manager of construction.

“We are an integrated property provider that develops products up front and maintains it for 50 years after we build it. We don't see too much of that in the American market.”

Actus builds properties that were once owned by the government on some of the nation's largest military bases, including Parris Island, S.C.; Fort Hood, Texas; Fort Campbell, Ky.; Camp Lejeune, N.C.; and Fort Drum, N.Y. The type of houses Actus builds varies by rank - from junior-enlisted to general officers, according to Connor. Average prices are between $100,000 to $400,000 and square footage ranges from 1,500 to 4,000.

“Providing a quality product for military families that will last for 50 years is our challenge,” Connor states. “We have to be mindful that we [must] design and construct a quality product that will last, is sustainable and easy to maintain.” Actus employs internal design and technology services group to perform R&D, Connor adds. Another challenge, he notes, is the decreasing number of skilled laborers entering the industry.

“We have to be smarter [to] be able to build using a smaller labor force at the bases themselves,” Connor continues. “We do a lot of pre-fabrication off site to reduce the amount of labor on the site.”

Actus has experienced rapid growth despite market challenges. “We build at places located all over the country,” Connor says. “In some areas, weather, geography and local markets could be a challenge, but our completed housing turnover has been great.”

Current Projects
Two of Actus' current projects are Army Hawaii Family Housing (AHFH) in Oahu, Hawaii, and the Atlantic Marine Corps Community LLC (AMCC) in Camp Lejeune. Started in May 2006, AHFH is a $2.3 billion project. It includes constructing 5,388 new homes, renovating and restoring 2,506 existing homes and building nine new community centers. Homes are between 1,600 to 3,000 square feet and each will have at least three bedrooms. The project will be constructed over 10 years.

“AHFH will be unrivaled in its sense of community and world-class amenities, while also providing our service members and their families with the quality of life they deserve,” Actus says.

AHFH will feature the world's largest solar-powered community, providing about 30 percent of its communities' electrical needs through photovoltaic panels, the company explains. “No other residential solar-powered community comes close to the size and scope of what will be built at AHFH,” it says. “The plan calls for the installation of seven megawatts of photovoltaic or solar paneling on the homes while also incorporating solar hot water heaters and other efficiency improvements to decrease consumption.”

According to Actus, this will reduce Hawaii's dependence on imported energy. “Ninety-three percent of Hawaii's electrical power comes from burning oil, all of which is imported,” it explains. “The PV technology will significantly reduce the demand on existing Oahu power generation assets, as well as save approximately 18,000 barrels of oil each year.”

Actus started Phase II of AMCC in November 2006, bringing the total homes in the community to 4,359. The company privatized 3,165 homes during Phase I, which was completed in October 2005.

Approximately $160 million has been allotted for Phase II, with a development period of five years. Development will include construction of 194 new homes, renovation of 779 existing homes and demolishing 779 outdated homes. Community amenities will include playgrounds, swimming pools and community centers.

“The project allows us to move ahead with our Navy and Marine Corps partners to bring neighborhoods, homes and services that will vastly improve the quality of life for our service members and their families,” Marc Sierra, Navy portfolio manager, said in a statement. “Actus, with eight MHPI projects to date, is experienced and successful in providing homes and communities that military families deserve.”

New Challenge
Actus is a subsidiary of Australia-based Lend Lease Corp., one of the world's largest real estate services companies, operating in 40 countries.

Connor says Actus plans to move into the medium- to high-density accommodations market in the near future. The company is in the design stage of the Privatized Army Lodging program, an on-base hotel for Army travelers. “We wanted to diversify military housing, and not just be in single-family homes,” Connor explains.

The approximately $450 million program includes construction of 4,000 rooms across 13 bases, Connor adds. “There are a lot of Army bases out there,” he states, “and we look forward to getting more future work. We want to challenge ourselves to come up with the new level of sustainability.”