Air Force level project, construction update 2007

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Steven Wilson
  • 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
ELLSWORTH AFB S.D. --  Ellsworth Airmen and their families will soon notice new developments in the many construction projects already in progress and those slated to begin this month.

The Air Force Financial Services Center
The massive proportions of this Air Force-level project are affecting three locations here.
"Overall, three separate projects comprise this undertaking and it's coming along really well for something of this magnitude," said Howie Aubertin, 28th Civil Engineer Squadron engineering flight chief.

Mr. Aubertin explained the three locations affected by the April 2006 decision to locate all matters relating to finance to Ellsworth are buildings 4040, the former education center, 2010, the former community center and a portion of building 7510, which belongs to the 28th Logistical Readiness Squadron.

Building 4040

"Basically, both floors inside building 4040 have been gutted and the demolition work is complete," Mr. Aubertin said. "Now, they've started the build-back.

"That means the contractors are putting walls where they need to go and they're working on electrical, air-conditioning and plumbing," he added.

Mr. Aubertin explained that while the whole building is being worked on, the bulk of the effort between his engineers, the 28th Communications Squadron and the contractors are all pointed toward having Wing A of the building ready by March 30.

The entire building should be completed by September, he added.

Building 2010

The former community center, building 2010, is also getting a facelift in order to support the administrative functions needed for the 24-hour, Air Force-wide financial hub.

"We're still doing demo-work," said Mr. Aubertin. "They've gutted the inside and are now taking care of the walls."

The outside of the building will look different as well.

"We're pulling the loading docks off the back (of the building)," Mr. Aubertin explained. "We've pulled off the front awning as well."

Mr. Aubertin said the build-back for this location has not started yet, but should begin in February.

Although the Air Force Financial Services Center is a huge project, Ellsworth leadership made sure Airmen and their families were not without the community center for long.
"The community center was relocated to the Health and Wellness Center at building 7012," Mr. Aubertin said. "The grand opening was in December."

Building 7510

A small portion of this rather unassuming and out-of-the-way building will actually house the all important "brain network" of the Air Force Financial Services Center.

"The servers in 7510 will talk to the world," said Mr. Aubertin. "The financial services programs will actually run from 7510 but it will feel seamless because it's over the network."

This critical stage in development for the center is progressing, but Mr. Aubertin said there have been some modifications to the original plan.

The whole FSC project is "technology flexible", which allows design changes to be made even though the center is already under construction, he said.

This particular design modification allows for the purchasing of four critical pieces of communication equipment instead of the original design for 12.

"It's four versus 12 and we'll still have the same capability," Mr. Aubertin said.
The design modifications, which led to a second look and some minor tweaking to the cooling system for the equipment, are having little impact on the overall project.

"We've worked with the financial services folks to minimize impacts to the initial start-up date scheduled for April," said Mr. Aubertin.

Phase 4 and 5 Housing

Construction of the newest Ellsworth housing units is scheduled to begin in the Spring and slated for completion in October 2008. The phase 4 portion of the contract will provide housing for senior officers, chief master sergeants, company grade officers, senior non-commissioned officers and a few junior non-commissioned officers. The phase 5 portion will see houses built strictly for junior grade non-commissioned officers.

"This housing project is another way the Air Force cares for Ellsworth Airmen and their families," said Col. Bruce Emig, 28th Bomb Wing Vice Commander. "Col. Smith and our civil engineer squadron worked extremely hard to get the very best housing possible, and I'm confident that everyone will be pleased with the results. I'm definitely looking forward to seeing them built."

The first thing Ellsworth Airmen and their families will see stemming from the $32.4 million contract will be a chain link fence around the construction area.

Fencing off the construction area will cause some housing residents to adjust how they get to and from home.

Families in the recently completed Phase 3 housing project will need to access their homes from Washington Avenue. Housing located on Crazy Horse Court can be accessed via a temporarily constructed gravel road from the Airman's Attic, building 16100.

The access road will be used for the duration of the project.

Demolition of the existing houses is estimated to begin Jan. 29.

As the housing projects evolve toward fruition, coordination meetings between Ellsworth leadership and the contractor will begin and more specific milestones will be hammered out at that time.

Personnel with questions about the construction in their place of work or residence can email 28bw.pa2@ellsworth.af.mil or call 385-5056.