Academy inspection station wins high-level facility award

  • Published
  • By Ray Bowden
  • U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. --  The Academy's Large Vehicle Inspection Station was recognized by the Air Force and the U.S. Green Building Council for its design excellence during a small ceremony here April 3. 

The station was selected by the Air Force's 2014 Design Award Program, managed by the Headquarters Air Force Civil Engineering Program in Washington D.C., for its cost control, energy efficiency, functionality and sustainability.

In a letter to the Academy, S. Richard Fedrizzi, president and CEO of the U.S. Green Building Council, said the facility's design demonstrates "leadership in transforming the building industry."  

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers managed construction of the station near the Academy's North Gate, used by 10th Security Forces Squadron Airmen to inspect contractor and commercial vehicles before they enter the Academy.

"The LVIS is the direct result of a strong partnership between the Corps of Engineers and the Academy, and helps us maintain an open and secure installation while accomplishing our core mission of developing leaders of character for our nation," said Col. Stacey Hawkins, the 10th Air Base Wing commander. "This station and all those involved in its construction, upkeep and daily use, is an example of our continuing to maintain our Academy as an exemplary installation." 

The site opened for business Dec. 2, 2012.

"One terrific element of its design is that it operates in full accordance with our force protection guidelines regarding bomb mitigation," said Maj. Jose Lebron, the 10th SFS commander. "This means if an explosive device were to be found during an inspection, those outside the station would be protected. From a security perspective, this station is an absolute force-multiplier for the Academy and all who visit and work here."

Along with the safety elements of its design, the station is also environmentally friendly, said Lt. Col. Jose Rivera-Hernandez, the 10th Civil Engineer Squadron commander.

"Because if its design, including the Xeriscaping (landscaping and gardening that reduces or eliminates the need for supplemental water), we use 23 percent less water than we would otherwise," he said. "We're able to provide customer service and protect the installation and the environment in a more sustainable way. It's a big win for all involved." 

Winning building design projects raises the bar on the Air Force's standard of excellence for facilities, said Col. Mark Sloan, the deputy director of faculty engineering for the Air Force Civil Engineer Center.

"These facilities were designed with aesthetics and functionality in mind, while still placing strong emphasis on resource and cost efficiency," he said in September.

The U.S. Air Force Design Awards program, established in 1976 and managed by AFCEC, recognizes and promotes design excellence across the Air Force.

There are three levels of awards: honor awards signify the best in design, followed by merit awards. Citation awards go to designs with a special aspect deserving recognition.

Other 2014 facility design award winners were the F-22 Systems Support Facility at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, and the U.S. Strategic Command Gate at Offutt AFB, Neb.