Reserve wing’s courtyard is AF design award winner

  • Published
  • By Ann Skarban
  • 302nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. --  The newly constructed courtyard and centerpiece to four 302nd Airlift Wing campus buildings has been recognized as the 2015 Honor Award winner in the category of Landscape Architecture for the 2015 Air Force Design Awards program.

According to a release from the U.S. Air Force Civil Engineer Center Public Affairs, “These awards recognize the outstanding teamwork required to produce quality Air Force facilities, and the winning projects epitomize the skill and professionalism of our design teams,” said Maj. Gen. Timothy Green, the Air Force director of civil engineers.

The in-house design and project management efforts by the 21st Civil Engineer Squadron’s Facilities Excellence Team at Peterson Air Force Base transformed an undeveloped outdoor area made up of sun-faded, deteriorating red landscape rocks that did not allow for pedestrian traffic flow between the 302nd AW’s headquarters, operations and mission support facilities, into a high-use, central outdoor gathering space for both formal and informal unit ceremonies as well as a pedestrian passage way between the four Reserve structures.

“This was a terrific design, we did not contract anything out. It helped save design fees typically encountered in all structural designs,” said Matt Hamilton, 21st CES facilities excellence architect.

Hamilton further explained, sustainable and low impact design elements were incorporated throughout the project including permeable pavement systems allowing aquifer regeneration, a low water xeriscape landscape or plants requiring no additional water source, low-voltage and solar power lighting to save energy costs as well as post-consumer and recyclable materials used for the hardscape elements and site furnishings.

The courtyard design hydrology considerations including storm water management, vegetation, materials and the quality of life improvement for users and the environment were all elements of the overall courtyard project contributing to the 2015 design award recognition.

According to Hamilton all of the materials used for courtyard project were sourced from a 500 mile radius with most sourced from within a 200 mile radius reducing the carbon foot print of transporting materials for this project as well as contributing to overall cost savings for this project.

Describing the 26,400 square foot courtyard Hamilton said, “This project is the first of this scale. Typically we design smaller projects.”

Since the courtyard’s completion in 2014 the wing has held numerous gatherings to include promotion and recognition events including hosting a lunch during Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James’ visit in April 2015.

“Working with the Peterson design team allowed us to have maximum input and make the most of the area adjoining the 302nd AW’s buildings. Since its completion, the courtyard has become an important central gathering space and efficient passage way for our members. It’s most certainly a value-added improvement,” said Col. Jay Pittman, commander of the 302nd Airlift Wing.

Contributing members of the 21 CES courtyard design team include: Matt (David) Hamilton, Mark Dobbs, Michael Fenicle, Brian Hub and Jason Sellers.