Renovation of Building 171

Guernsey provided complete architectural, interior, and engineering design services for the interior remodel of approximately 452,000 square feet of existing administrative space at the Air Force Civil Engineer Center (AFCEC) in Port San Antonio, TX.

Building 171 was intended to house nine government organizations, each with their own determined layouts. Our aim was to provide a facility that would give each of these organizations the capability and support to move into the building and resume normal business operations as quickly as possible.

One critical task to accomplish this goal was creating a ‘road map’ of construction to provide the Government with the appropriate space for the correct organization in accordance with the required schedule. We quickly determined that the government’s proposed phasing plan did not take the planned environmental zones for HVAC and existing fire riser locations into account. The design team was able to reduce the number and increase the area of the phases so as to remain on schedule and incorporate heat, air and fire protection in an efficient manner.

Guernsey also incorporated sustainable design strategies by using cradle-to-cradle certified materials with substantial recycled content, and carpet, cushions and adhesives made with the lowest VOC-emitting products on the market.