LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
More visual progress is expected in the coming weeks as construction moves ahead on new housing campus for Air Force Basic Military Training.
According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the project administrator, the two Airmen Training Complexes under construction will soon go vertical.
"You'll see a lot of progress within the next 4-6 weeks, weather permitting," said Daniel Olivas, the corps' resident engineer for the $900 million east campus project. It includes two dining-classroom facilities, one of which is underway, and two more ATCs.
"The way the project is going now on ATC 1, we'll probably see the third floor (in that timeframe) and the same for ATC 2," he said.
Mr. Olivas said weather delays and unexpected situations in utility and foundation construction, particularly on ATC 1, have put all three projects slightly behind schedule. He still expects completion in the original timeframes: ATC 1 by December, the dining-classroom facility in January 2012 and ATC 2 the following summer.
"Overall, we're pleased with the construction (companies)," Mr. Olivas said about dealing with a different firm for each project. "And I'm pleased with the construction staff we have on site. I think they are the best we have (in the corps)."
The ATCs, which will house up to 1,200 trainees, are each four-story structures with a running track, drill pad, war skills area and utility infrastructure. Luke Boulevard and Connally Street border the campus north to south, Gary and Carswell Avenues from east to west.
The new structures will replace eight Recruit Housing and Training buildings scattered around Lackland built in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Plans for a second BMT campus, west of Carswell across from the east site, has a projected 2018 completion date.
"We're all excited for this to be out of the ground," said Howard Steck, ATC program manager with the 802nd Civil Engineer Squadron.
Most of the past year, work on the site was devoted to utility and foundation construction.
Mr. Olivas also said he expects the contract for ATC 3 to be awarded in the next two months with a possible May start to construction.
For now, though, the attention is centered on the current projects.
"We're very thrilled to be a part of this major effort in building facilities for our future (Airmen) warriors," he said.
"That's really the focus of our effort. We're concentrating on the bottom line, who we are building this for - our future warriors."