Battle Stations 21 (also known as USS Trayer) is the Navy’s active training facility for all Navy recruits. A diverse group of designers and contractors worked as a design-build team to create this high-tech training simulator.

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The Battles Stations 21 project was comprised of 3 separate building phases, with the final phase including a 210 foot-long replica of a guided missile destroyer. This project was awarded as a design-assist contract, and included over 1400 tons of structural steel, and the incorporation of marine grade miscellaneous steel into the set design.  The focal point of this project is the 3/4 scale mock-up of an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer enclosed in a 157,000 square foot building. The trainer was designed to create realistic training scenarios for recruits during a 12-hour Battle Stations experience as a test of the skills and teamwork learned during basic training.

The designers included multiple architects, set designers, and a multitude of audio visual designers. Design considerations included a structural steel frame for the replica destroyer, raised grating covered platforms for the flooded compartments training scenario, grating and platforms designed to withstand high temperatures in the fire suppression chambers, raised platforms and handrails for the engine  compartments and mass casualty scenario, ships ladders, the incorporation of marine components such as hatches and water tight doors, and gangways, all while complying with EM-385.

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