Atkins provided full architectural services for this new 72,750-square-foot (sf) fitness center for the Air Force. Tyndall AFB and USACE Mobile District first presented Atkins with preliminary drawings for a single-story, 89,657-sf facility with construction costs that exceeded available funding.

To resolve siting and funding issues, Atkins refined the existing DD Form 1391 to accurately meet requirements; implemented innovative, sustainable, and cost-saving design approaches; and recommended the construction of a new, two-story, 72,750-sf fitness center, with a considerably smaller footprint and a construction cost not to exceed $19 million.

Evaluations conducted during design focused on optimizing energy and sustainable design features to achieve a maximum square footage with the least building energy use per square foot. A life-cycle cost analysis was conducted for all energy-saving features, such as the building envelope and cooling systems, increased wall insulation, an energy-efficient roof system, and roof mounted photovoltaic solar panels. Other sustainable design features included daylighting; solar thermal preheating of domestic water; rainwater collection for irrigation systems; low-flow plumbing fixtures; and permeable pavers in overflow parking areas. As work progressed, Atkins was able to design to Platinum standards with no impact to the project’s cost.

Revit Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology was used to generate the model for development of construction documents and to interface the model with structural programs. SpecsIntact and DrChecks were used to develop construction documents.

Atkins’ approach immediately resolved all site and funding issues while providing a more efficient building layout. Our team’s final design exceeded the client’s requirements by achieving LEED Platinum, and the entire project was awarded for $3 million less than the originally budgeted amount.

• Applied technologies
• Architectural engineering
• Architecture
• Construction services
• Infrastructure engineering
• Landscape architecture
• Structures
• Sustainability

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