JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas -- Each year, the Air Force Civil Engineer Center holds the Air Force Design Awards to recognize and promote outstanding resource-efficient, visually appealing facility projects. Awards will be formally presented to the winners Dec. 13 during the AFCEC Design and Construction Symposium in San Antonio.
The 2016 USAF Design Awards ceremony boasts the most renowned Air Force facility designs, showcasing the year’s prized aesthetic, yet practical, design developments.
AFCEC manages the design awards program, which originated in 1976 and has since grown to become an Air Force tradition.
“The winning projects epitomize the skill and professionalism of our design teams,” said Lt. Gen. John Cooper, deputy chief of staff for logistics, engineering and force protection. “I am proud to have these design teams supporting the Air Force civil engineer team.”
Each year, three levels of awards are given: the Honor Award, which is the highest achievement; the Merit Award and the Citation Award recognizing the outstanding teamwork required to produce quality, efficient Air Force facilities.
This year’s recipients are:
- Honor Award, Facility Design: Airman Training Complex Dining and Classroom Facility, JBSA-Lackland, Texas
- Honor Award, Facility Design: Airman Training Complex 3, JBSA-Lackland, Texas
- Merit Award, Facility Design: Defense Information Systems Agency Global Operations, Scott AFB, Illinois
- Citation Award, Facility Renovations and Additions: National Museum of the USAF addition, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
- Citation Award, Facility Design: Base operations facility, Minot AFB, North Dakota
The three-person juror team analyzed the design entries, compared them against known best practices and industrial standards and hand selected the top features in facility renovations and additions, landscape architecture and facility design, said Paul Scoggins, AFCEC subject matter expert for installation planning.
Scoggins, one of this year's jurors deciding the winners, said jurors look for design features that improve the way Airmen are able to complete their jobs while using the least amount of resources possible. Other award-winning attributes include money-saving designs and projects that improve facilities to make them more enjoyable to work and live in, which in turn increases overall Air Force productivity and recruitment.
“Recognizing these outstanding designs is important because competition breeds innovation, which leads to future design improvement and success,” Scoggins said. “Without identifying and awarding the best of the best, we begin to lose that competitive edge that continues to make the Air Force the best service in the Department of Defense.”
A “well-deserved congratulations” is in order to this year’s big winners; not only for the showcased final products, but also for each participant’s dedication to design excellence and creating a better future for Airmen, said David Duncan, USAF Design Awards Program Manager. “Each contributing organization's service, enthusiasm and commitment are a source of inspiration and pride.”