Partially funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the Foreign Affairs Security Training Center (FASTC) for GSA and the US Department of State replaces 19 scattered training facilities. The new 1,700- acre facility, located at Fort Pickett in Nottoway County, Virginia, consolidates the training functions of the Diplomatic Security Service program. Each year the facility will accommodate more than 10,000 students in the development of hard and soft skills.

KCCT researched potential sites and conducted interviews of all training personnel, capturing the mission requirements for more than 40 venues, including an indoor firing range; baffled indoor/outdoor tactical range; explosive demonstration range; live-fire shoot house; rappel tower; tactical maze; tactical training building; high speed anti-terrorism driving tracks; unimproved road driving course; vehicle maintenance shop; post-blast training range; explosives simulation alley, classroom buildings; dormitories, dining facility, athletic field, parking garages; armory; fitness center; mock outdoor urban training facility (MOUT) and an off road driving course. These requirements were the framework for the program of requirements that served to inform the master plan.  

Under the GSA Design Excellence Program and GSA Chief Architect, KCCT designed a master plan and three alternatives for evaluation under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Reflecting the guiding principles of Design Excellence, the vision of the master plan was to envelope a practical and functional training center within a distinctive context inspired by the natural character of the site. The vision was achieved by establishing live and work zones within the community environment. These zones created the community within while intertwining with the surrounding Fort Pickett community. Venues were designed of the ground versus on the ground, maintaining and celebrating the natural contours and characters of the site. The final master plan provided the organization, content and designs for all soft and hard skills venues.