Projects improve quality of life around Goodfellow

  • Published
  • By Connie Hempel
  • 17th Training Wing Public Affairs
GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Improvements to Goodfellow's quality of life can been seen at almost every corner of the wing. From the main fitness center down to building 530 and across to the new dorms off of Valiant Street, contractors and personnel from the contracting and civil engineer squadrons are working hard to get numerous projects done on time and are looking forward to start more.

The $4.4 million Mathis Fitness Center add and alter project started earlier this year as part of the Air Force Fit to Fight initiative. This is actually phase one of a two-phase project, which includes adding 16,000 sq ft and renovating current rooms within the facility. Some of the alterations members will see inside include upgrading and extending the current men's locker room and adding rubber flooring to the weight room. The new space being added will include a new women's locker room and a spin room with a window wall.

To accommodate the addition to the Mathis Fitness Center, the tennis courts were removed and four new courts were constructed.

"The driver of this project is the Fit to Fight initiative from 2006 when Air Force officials evaluated what needed to be done to our fitness center to meet Fit to Fight standards," said Ron Trepanier, 17th Civil Engineer Squadron, Programs flight chief. "This is phase one of a two-phase project, however, there's not a time line for when the second phase will start."

Phase one is expected to be complete by February. The proposal for the second project includes another addition to house a new basketball court and an indoor running track.

Intelligence students will enjoy a new 50,000 sq ft Joint Intelligence Technical training facility which is scheduled to start in October. With 26 classrooms, this facility will put more than 2,000 students through a year. The $11.4 million project should be complete by Spring 2012.

Building 530 is undergoing a complete remodel that is slated to take over a year to complete. Everything in the 120,000 sq ft building will be replaced sections at a time so training is not interrupted.

The second and third floor of building 401 was recently remodeled and its new tenants, the 17th Communications Squadron, will be moving in October. Once they move in, their old buildings - 112, 113 and 141 - will be demolished.

Improvements for Airmen living in the dorms here include new and remodeled dormitories, and added space to the Crossroads Building.

When driving on base through the Jacobson gate, the almost complete 200-room dormitory can be seen to the right along with a new drill pad for physical training. This $23 million project, which includes the three-story building, drill pad and troop walk, was funded by the economic stimulus package and began construction last year. Four hundred Airmen are scheduled to move into the building in May. Also part of this project is a lighted troop walk crossing Kearney Boulevard and connecting to the current troop walk behind the Chapel.

"Eventually all the troop walks will be networked and they can march to anywhere on base," Mr. Trepanier said.

Another dormitory project that broke ground in August is a 100-room building with a 3,000 sq ft military training leader office. This $12.8 million project will house 200 Airmen and is expected to be complete by Spring 2012.

Both of these new dormitories will have day rooms on every floor, a laundry room and a computer study area.

To help ease the current room deficit, these two new dorms will be additions to Goodfellow and not replacements so the old dorms will not be torn down.

"Even with these two dorms we still have a deficit," Mr. Trepanier said.

Dormitories 250 and 252 are currently being remodeled, 12 rooms at a time, and dorms 255 and 257 will follow suit. The $1.3 million renovations include new bathrooms and bedrooms, and should be complete by the end of 2011.

Permanent party dorms 241, 242, 243 and 356 are currently getting screens for their windows and will soon receive new carpets in all the rooms and common areas.
Mr. Trepanier said the $160,000 carpet project is the largest carpet job they've set up so far.

Crossroads will have an additional 3,800 sq ft and a kitchen added by the Spring. The $650,000 project is scheduled to start in October and will provide more space for their programs.

Construction will start on a new Learning Center in March consolidating the Library, Education Center, First Term Airmen Center and Professional Military Education into one building. This 26,000 sq ft facility will have a computer café and administrative offices on the second floor. It will be located just south of the current Education Center and will include a troop walk. Once this building is complete, expected date is Fall 2012, the current Education Center and Library will be demolished.

Remodeling of the Post Office is expected to start in the near future. Work on the Post Office will include new air conditioning units, new mechanical systems and an interior update. This $2 million project will take one year to complete.

"Everyone will be moved out of the building during renovation, but the Post Office boxes will remain there and will be open," Mr. Trepanier said. "There may be some down times, but that will be at a minimum."

The Jacobson gate is also getting an update with the pony walls being extended and, with the addition of a troop walk at Valiant Street East and Kearney Boulevard, the crosswalk just inside the gate will be removed. This $647,000 project is slated to start in October and be finished by Spring.

The outdoor recreation camp is currently having its restrooms renovated, which should be complete early next year. The $195,000 project also converts the building into a fallout shelter. During construction, port-a-potties will be onsite.

Looking ahead, Mr. Trepanier said they are planning a project to build a warehouse with administrative offices to consolidate the 17th Logistics Readiness Squadron. The new building will be next to the Transportation facility. Once complete and 17th LRS is moved in, buildings 423 and 443 on Ft. Lancaster Avenue will be demolished.