Summertime is prime time for base projects

Published June 7, 2016
By Dave Smith
21st Space Wing Public Affairs

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- Several projects are planned for Peterson Air Force Base this summer. Awareness can prevent temporary disturbances in daily patterns.

The various projects will begin this Summer and Fall, some continuing into next year. Fall, said 21st Civil Engineer Squadron chief of project management Aaron Duggan. Work on the Fitness Center, dorm renovations, street repair and a sizeable xeriscape (landscaping that reduces water use) project are the most notable jobs taking place he said.

The squadron has its hands full. Currently they are managing nearly 40 construction projects across the base valued at over $30 million.

“These projects include everything from major interior renovations and facility infrastructure upgrades, to roof replacements, which may not always be visible to the average person on base,” he said.

Already in progress, HVAC units at the fitness center are being replaced. The work, which Duggan said started about a month ago, should be complete by late Fall.

“We are changing the existing units and adding cooling where there was none,” he said. “The long term benefits are there will be more cooling and comfort. It’s going to be a great end result.”

Along with increased cooling to the center, higher efficiency units with new controls will save energy and its related costs. While work continues Duggan said people might experience some disruption and minor inconvenience as some rooms are closed to allow work on the overhead roof to be completed.

Another high visibility project, that will likely begin later this month, is crack repair on some of the streets around PAFB. Work is prioritized based on traffic and visibility.

“Peterson, Stewart, Paine and Hamilton have the first priority,” Duggan said. “Ideally it will be base-wide, hitting what has the most need.”

Lane closures can be expected while this project takes place, but alerts and notifications will be sent out ahead of time, and signage will be placed to note traffic changes.

Dorm renovation is another project in the works Duggan said, particularly dorm 1158.

“We are gutting the facility,” he said. It is a design/build job that is presently in the design phase. The work will include new room finishes, updated heating, air conditioning, and fire alarm system, along with other enhancements. The construction phase of the project could begin mid-Summer and take about a year to complete.

Additionally, a base-wide xeriscaping project, done with the Army Corps of Engineers, will encompass a total of 10 acres at seven different locations. The largest of the sites is around the command complex including buildings 1, 2, and 3.

“We are taking out turf and replacing it with rock and native plants,” said Duggan. “We will also do the same around building 350, the museum and dorm areas. It will save water and save maintenance costs.”

Duggan said the xeriscaping will not likely cause much disruption to people’s daily schedules, but they might notice machinery moving around to support the work. Such a large project will run into late 2017, after a break during Winter, he said.

All 21st Space Wing projects are approved and prioritized by a facilities board, which includes Col. Doug Schiess, 21st Space Wing commander, before any actual planning takes place.