WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio - In an effort to upgrade the base and replace outdated equipment, or appliances, the Airmen dormitories are undergoing renovations.
These updates and changes directly support the “strengthen and care for our team” and “optimize and modernize the installation” lines of effort within the 88th Air Base Wing’s new strategic mission plan.
Wright-Patterson AFB officials say projects like these are important since they help with the safety and care of dorm residents.
“These projects are vital to giving our Airmen safe, comfortable and modern living quarters, which aligns with strengthening and caring for our people,” said Steven Vincent, 88th Civil Engineer Group director. “The upgrades also update the infrastructure to ensure longer facility life and decreased annual maintenance costs.”
All the furniture and appliances must be replaced since they have a “life cycle.” The $420,000 allocation is part of $5 million in funding Air Force Materiel Command released in early June for its “AFMC We Need” initiative.
“With new purchases, whether it’s mattresses, furniture or bedding, we are providing new, more modernized selections,” said Tech. Sgt. Benjamin Hollopeter, an Airman dorm leader with 88 CEG. “All of our furniture has a life cycle that requires replacement ranging from three to 10 years. In this respect, new is always better.
“We are purchasing 592 mattresses to replace all our end-of-life-cycle products. As the old, more rigid-style mattresses get replaced, this gives our Airmen, Guardians and Soldiers a better opportunity to get a more comfortable sleep and remain fit to fight.”
These types of projects help improve living and work environments.
“Modernization projects like future dorm renovations and the new electronic key-management system ensure we are leaning forward into future operations,” Hollopeter added. “Furthermore, these projects improve Airmen’s living environments by ensuring the newest technologies are used for their life, health and safety in the dorms.”
Though still in the bidding and purchasing stage, the new key-management system will assist Airmen who have been locked out of their rooms.
“The new key-management system allows for a much more secure method of key tracking and distribution,” Hollopeter said. “The electronic key system is a much more sophisticated way of maintaining key logs.”
The system will allow all residents to be registered to it.
“They will be able to log in to the system biometrically (fingerprint) and access their spare room key,” he said. “For lockouts, this means that the Airman will no longer need to wait for a dorm chief or (Airman dorm leader) to let them into their rooms. Instead, they have the ability to instantly aid themselves and return the key within a designated time.”
He said this new system will also help maintain key management and policies.
Building 1213 renovations are projected to finish around the end of September or beginning of October.
“After 1213 comes back online, we will transition the Airmen residing in Building 1212 into Building 1213,” Hollopeter said. “After all moves are complete, Building 1212 will go down for renovation.”
Building 1212 will be the last set for overhaul and return WPAFB dorms to max capacity again, he added.