Tyndall Air Force Base Hurricane Recovery
MASSIVE REBUILDING EFFORT SUPPORTS MILITARY MISSION NOW AND IN THE FUTURE
In 2018, Hurricane Michael slammed the Gulf Coast of Florida, making landfall as a Category 5 storm and causing $5 billion in damage to the Tyndall Air Force Base, near Panama City. Winds as strong as 157 mph destroyed half of the more than 1,000 buildings on the 29,000-acre site, and left the other half requiring significant repair. Damage to base facilities constituted one-fifth of all the damage caused by the storm in the U.S.
When the storm was over, Air Force personnel lived in tents as runways were cleared and a massive rebuilding project got underway. In support of the Air Force’s mission, military leaders are creating what they call an “Installation of the Future” at Tyndall, re-missioning it as an F-35 Squadron Base, and to support squadrons of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning. Gannett Fleming is part of the rebuilding effort, serving as designer-of-record for the repair of five facilities and providing project management and quality control for five other facilities at the future-focused base.
What We Did
For the individual buildings that make up the facilities, the team is overseeing re-roofing, window replacement, and structural repair or replacement as needed to restore them to operational capacity. Careful coordination and planning enabled successful design and construction in partially and fully occupied buildings. All work complies with Florida Building Code High-Velocity Hurricane Zone standards, providing enhanced protection against wind speeds of 165 mph. Electrical/telecommunications design includes new explosion-proof panelboards and direct buried duct banks in accordance with client specifications.
To meet the military’s strict security needs, work on the Communication Squadron Network Control Center Building includes designing an expanded sensitive compartmented information facility (SCIF), where confidential information can be viewed and discussed. This work followed stringent standards covering layout, physical hardening, acoustic and visual controls, and construction techniques to create a secure facility.
Key Features
- Design-build delivery facilitated effective project coordination among all stakeholders.
- Structural repair or replacement designed to prevent damage from up to 165-mph winds.
- SCIF design and construction enables secure handling of confidential information.
Outcomes
- Restored operational capacity for dozens of Air Force facilities.
- Support for Air Force’s creation of an “Installation of the Future.”
- Secure facilities in accordance with military requirements.
CLIENT
U.S. Air Force Civil Engineer Center
LOCATION
Panama City, Fla.
ROLE
Designer of Record, Design Project Management, Design Quality Control
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