Guernsey Wins Air Force Design Award for Physical Fitness Facility

12.14.2005

Oklahoma City — C. H. Guernsey & Company was recently awarded the 2005 United States Air Force Concept Design Award for its Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, Physical Fitness Center design. The 78,000 square foot physical fitness center will provide a quality facility to enhance both the mission effectiveness and the quality of life.

This is Guernsey’s fifth design award; previously winning the 2004 Air Education and Training Command Facility International Design Award; as well as three national-level awards: 2000 Concept Award, 2004 U.S. Air Force Honor Award, and 2004 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Merit Award.

Guernsey’s design overcame many obstacles to achieve a world-class center for Air Force men and women stationed at the base in San Antonio, Texas.

“One major challenge of this project was siting the facility,” said Guernsey Vice President Kent Hanebaum. “A portion of the site is in the historic area of the base and the rest of the site is along the base’s historic boundary. Additionally, there are two historic structures that could not be moved or relocated.”

Guernsey’s planning and design resulted in the Texas Historical Commission deeming the new facility a “Non-Adverse Effect” to the historical value of the base properties.

The new physical fitness facility provides base personnel a center for athletics, aerobic activities, cardiovascular training as well as auxiliary administrative support. The facility has a main gymnasium with an elevated indoor running track along the perimeter, office space, exercise and weight rooms, cardiovascular rooms, racquetball courts, men’s and women’s locker rooms and a laundry area. A Health and Wellness Center (HAWC) is included to provide proper education training for food preparation and overall health care.

The United States Air Force Design Awards Program was established in 1976 to recognize and promote design excellence. Its purpose is to publicize and recognize projects that have achieved the Air Force’s goal of design excellence as it relates to the natural and built environment. Winning projects establish the benchmark of design excellence the Air Force expects for all its facilities and installations. The Guernsey project was selected from 122 entries to receive the Award.

Since 2000, Guernsey has designed eight physical fitness centers, seven for the Air Force and one for the Navy. The eight facilities are located in seven states.

C. H. Guernsey & Company Background Information:
C. H. Guernsey & Company, celebrating more than 75 years of business, offers quality engineering, architectural and consulting solutions to clients in the United States and abroad. Guernsey has its headquarters in Oklahoma City with offices in Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, New Mexico, Texas and Washington, D.C. Visit http://www.chguernsey.com for additional information.

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