Air Force initiative works to "right size" Peterson

Published April 22, 2009
By Thea Skinner
21st Space Wing Public Affairs

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo -- Peterson Air Force Base is participating in a pilot test initiative to analyze existing workspaces throughout the Air Force.

The Space Optimization and Utilization Initiative, also referred to as the Air Force M-6 Initiative, addresses consolidation of resources, occupancy levels and anticipated space needs.

"We are creating a comprehensive foundation for developing recommendations for each installation's future space allocations and construction programs," said Dan Rodriguez, 21st Space Wing Civil Engineer Squadron Asset Management flight chief. "Renovations bring more people to the community and more missions make the base valuable, increasing our ability to support the 21st Space Wing."

The initiative, which is part of the 2008 Unites States Air Force Civil Engineer Strategic Plan, is designed to reduce 20 percent of real property square footage and 20 percent of maintenance costs by the year 2020.

"What we are doing across the Air Force is a space optimization plan - consolidation of resources," said Cathy Ward, U.S. Space Command Real Estate, command reality specialist. "We need to get a better handle of how we are using the space. We are still in the fact finding mode right now. We are trying to get to a standard (model) that the business private sector uses. Across the Air Force, we will have an S (space) File format by December 2009."

The space file will provide data that civil engineers use to analyze square footage at installations.

"We intend to ensure that Air Force Space Command is "right sized" and configured for efficient operations to meet quality of life standards and reduce the command's operations and maintenance footprint," Mr. Rodriguez said.

The initiative allows energy resources such as electricity and gas to be used sparingly and places personnel in workspaces that are modified to their mission. Under the initiative, personnel may be moved from a building using excessive energy into another building, and the building using more energy can be demolished.

"'We are trying to Provide Peterson Air Force Base with the playbook and plans," said James Allen, occupancy planning manager of Jones Lange LaSalle, a global commercial real estate service and investment management firm. "One-hundred and ninety three buildings have been assessed at Peterson. We look at all the buildings with large occupancy and provide recommendations for key optimization,"

The firm was hired to take an inventory and analyze Peterson's workspace needs for all buildings in excess of 100 person occupancy.

The initiative also aims to reduce the Peterson footprint of building spaces, so requirements are placed on units and those seeking to locate at the installation.
"We place people in the right size space for the type of work they are doing," Mr. Rodriguez said. "We are going to need more space and facilities."

Peterson and Tinker Air Force Base are the only installations participating in the pilot framework. Both installation reports will be presented at a meeting May 8 along with the strategic plan in Washington D.C., as Maj. Gen. Eulberg, Air Force civil engineer and the outgoing leadership team briefs the incoming team. The meeting will update all partners on how the Air Force is using the information collected.