LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
When off-duty college courses conducted by the Lackland Education Center resumed last week, students for the spring semester were welcomed back by new surroundings, a different location and enhanced classroom equipment.
A Jan. 13 ribbon cutting signified the center's classroom transition from Bldg. 5200 to Bldg. 7065 on Lackland's basic military training side. The relocation ended a 33-year association for the center in Bldg. 5200, which will be renovated for the 559th Medical Group.
Located on the third floor of Bldg. 7065, the 13 new classrooms include three computer labs. The rooms are equipped with SMART boards, Internet capability, enhanced audio-visual aides and improved lighting.
"This has really turned out to be a positive for us," said Russ Gregg, Lackland Education and Training chief.
Mr. Gregg said the smaller design - most classes have 24 students or fewer - produces more classrooms, which in turn makes more classes available at any given time. Other benefits of the $258,000 project include increased classroom capabilities, a more central location and additional storage space.
The reconfigured classroom design expands maximum total seating capacity from 304 to 338. It also allows Webster University's graduate classes to relocate from Bldg. 10904, and join Alamo Community Colleges and Park University in Bldg. 7065.
"By bringing Webster here, that's one less 'beg, borrow and steal' arrangement to be made and maintained (for classroom space)," Mr. Gregg said. "We now have more control and stability over our environment.
"And for the most part, (the colleges) will have their own dedicated classrooms."
The education chief said Simplified Acquisition Base Engineering Requirements (SABER) completed the project in 50 work days and SABER's innovations helped meet their needs.
"They really impressed me," Mr. Gregg said about the 802nd Civil Engineer Squadron unit. "They improved the original design and were very, very good on the renovation."
The new classrooms occupy more than two bays in the former Recruit Housing and Training building, located on the corner of Selfridge and Carswell Avenue. Centrally located restrooms, a break room and ADA-compliant entrances are added conveniences for students.
Additional student benefits are a covered break area and ample parking.
"In the evenings, the parking lots (around here) empty out," Mr. Gregg said. "5200 did not have a lot of parking. Whoever got there first got the good parking spots; whoever didn't, did some hiking. This should be more conducive to parking issues."
He recalled that his first reaction was shock when notified about the project in late 2009. However, once on the drawing board, there was a new perspective.
"When I first found out, I didn't want to be bounced out of 5200," Mr. Gregg said. "Then (SABER) started showing me what could be done (in Bldg. 7065) and I started feeling better about (the move)."
Pausing momentarily, he wryly added, "When I saw the final product, I was really glad I came up with this idea."