Walbridge Southeast, based in Charlotte, N.C., was selected by Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding in Newport News, Va., as construction manager for a new Supplemental Module Outfitting Facility, which will support its contract to construct Virginia-class nuclear submarines for the U.S. Navy.

The project includes installation of overhead cranes and utility services, as well as construction of service platforms, offices, administrative space, shops and tool storage buildings.

The new facility will house several production bays and will be sized to handle multiple submarine modules. Construction is scheduled to be completed in 2012.

Becky Stewart, Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding’s vice president of submarine programs, said in a press statement: “We are making substantial capital investments in our shipyard to support the increase in production to two Virginia-class submarines per year, the continued schedule acceleration and our cost reduction goals. These investments include the new Supplemental Module Outfitting Facility, which will be a great addition to our other submarine construction facilities.”