NAVFAC Southeast receives three Air Combat Command Design awards

"It was a privilege and an honor to witness the presentation of three awards to NAVFAC Southeast," said NAVFAC Atlantic Vice Commander Capt. Tom Bersson. "It's always great to be recognized by our Supported Commanders."

NAVFAC Southeast was recognized for two design awards in the Honor Award, Concept Design category - the highest in concept design. The Physical Fitness Center at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C. and the Integrated Operations Center at Barksdale Air Force Base, La. The project manager for both projects, Jim Ritchie, was named the ACC Design Agent Project Manager of the Year. Ritchie is an Installation Project manager who works in the Capital Improvements Business Line at NAVFAC Southeast in the Charleston office.

"I was surprised to be nominated and selected for this award," said Ritchie. "Winning and award like this is based on the entire team collaborating together toward one goal. The technical support we have and the communication between the team, the engineers, the design team and the customer was fantastic."

The Customer Concept Document for the Physical Fitness Center at Shaw Air Force Base received a Concept Design award. A Customer Concept Design is a comprehensive programming document that captures all of the requirements and cost elements of the project. This document included virtual tours of the planned facilities, with flyovers and 3-D views to show the main features and architectural compatibility of the project.

The fitness center project is a $31 million, 105,000 square feet facility that will include an indoor pool, racquetball courts, free weights, resistance weight training, cardio training, two basketball courts, four group exercise rooms, locker rooms, and a health and wellness center.

This project has since been reprogrammed with the scope being changed from a totally new facility ($31 million) to an add/alter project at $16 million. The reprogrammed project is a potential fiscal year 2008 or 2009 Congressional Add.

The design package for the Integrated Operations Center at Barksdale Air Force Base received the second Concept Design award. This $10.8 million project should be awarded this month. The project involves the renovation of a 1930's era hangar into an operations center for the 2nd Bomb Wing. Since the hangar is in the Barksdale Historic District, exterior renovations that included window and hangar door replacement had to be approved by the State Historic Preservation Office. Interior renovations include adding a second floor along with all new mechanical, electrical, plumbing and communication.

The project was complicated by the presence of a flight line kitchen in one corner of the building that must remain operational during the renovation along with a VIP reception area.