Building on a legacy Published May 21, 2007 By Staff Sgt. Drew Nystrom 55th Wing Public Affairs OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. -- Several high profile construction projects, including a new shopping center, child development center and Air Force Weather Agency headquarters building, are altering the landscape at Offutt. The growing demand for and subsequent growth of the 55th Wing's intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets, as well as the addition of two new AFWA squadrons, has prompted the new additions, said civil engineering officials, most scheduled for completion between this fall and spring of 2008. New shopping center One addition is a new $19.1-million dollar shopping center slated to replace the current Base Exchange. The new shopping center will dwarf the current exchange. "The current base exchange takes up about 88,000 sq. ft. The new shopping center will take up about 166,000 sq. ft., effectively doubling its size," said Doug Shapland, 55th CES lead engineer. Mr. Shapland said the best way to visualize the new facility is to think of it as about the size of a Wal-Mart. The center, incorporating the latest concepts in exchange design and layout, is scheduled for completion in April 2008. "Contractors are making way for utilities and digging the foundation now," Mr. Shapland said. "Members of Team Offutt can expect to see steel start to go up in June on the north end of the site." Sometime in April of next year, when the building is complete, merchants will move to the new facility and the old building will be demolished to make way for a new parking lot. Child development center Another much anticipated addition will be the new $12.5-million child development center. The center came about through a congressional insert to a military construction appropriations bill in 2005. "The center will provide care for up to 302 children ages 6 weeks to 5 years old," said Raymond Woracek, 55th CES engineering flight chief. At 51,600 sq. ft., the facility, scheduled for completion in the spring of 2008, will meet up to 98 percent of the base's existing child care needs. Mr. Woracek described the facility as first-rate, to include 22 activity rooms, and four separate age-appropriate, fenced-in playgrounds. It will cover nearly five acres of land. The new CDC is also another example of the Fightin' Fifty-Fifth not only leads the fight in the global war on terrorism, but also leads the fight in the use of "green," or renewable, resources. Mr. Woracek said the center will use a geothermal heat pump for its heating and cooling needs. Geothermal heat pumps are similar to ordinary heat pumps, but instead of using heat found in the outside air, they rely on the stable, even heat of the earth to provide heating and air conditioning. According to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency studies, geothermal heat pumps can result in 30 to 40 percent lower energy bills. For an organization like the Air Force where budgets are shrinking, that is significant, said Mr. Shapland. Air Force Weather Agency The new $29.7-million, 182,000 sq. ft. Air Force Weather Agency headquarters building is scheduled for completion this winter. The three-story building, designed to support 1,100 people, is located near the Bellevue Gate and is scheduled to become fully operational over a 5-year period as the AFWA staff relocates in increments. The new facility will also be a fully certified U.S. Green Building Council Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design structure. The LEED rating is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of green buildings. Being a LEED-certified building means the facility has been designed to and reached a recognized level of implementation and continuous monitoring of their "green" programs such as energy efficiency, recycling and the use of environmentally friendly products. The new AFWA building is an example of the emphasis the Air Force is placing on responsible use of and preservation of the environment. By becoming LEED certified, the AFWA facility will do its part to accomplish the vision of the Air Force Environmental Strategic Plan - fully supporting Air Force missions with natural infrastructure assets while protecting human health and safety and the environment. Initiatives and concepts incorporated into the AFWA headquarters building are part of the reason the Air Force was recently named number one among the nation's top 10 federal government green power partners. Weather delays The engineers said the wet weather the region has been experiencing lately has caused minor, correctable delays for some of the facilities that shouldn't affect the scheduled completion dates for any of the projects. "Contractors are doing what they can to work around the wet conditions. They've even worked Saturdays for about the past month and a half to make sure the scheduled completion date is met on time," said Mr. Shapland. Since 2000, new construction projects, including the new fire station, new mini-mall and SAC Gate vehicle search area, have popped up all over base and that trend won't stop any time soon, Mr. Shapland said. "We have 10 to 15 projects in the design or planning stage now," said the 55th CES lead engineer, "that will see new state-of-the-art facilities being built in the next 15 to 20 years keeping Offutt a premier Air Combat Command base."