Base to transform through Spangdahlem Evolution

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Kelley J. Stewart
  • 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany --  The 52nd Civil Engineer Squadron is managing many construction projects to move facilities from Bitburg Annex to here. The original goal was to have these projects completed by 2015, but circumstances have pushed out the completion dates for some of these projects. It has also led to a name change for the plan from Spangdahlem 2015 to Spangdahlem Evolution.

Circumstances affecting these construction projects include a complete redesign of the new child development center and the continuing resolution the U.S. government is currently operating under.

Phase I of the program, which is the return of the Bitburg Casern, hinges on the redesign and construction of the CDC.

"If we could exercise the design of the CDC as is, we'd be done in October 2012," Udo Stuermer, 52nd CES programs flight chief, said. "The redesign, from what we've heard from the (architect and engineer design agency), will take us to the end of this calendar year."

Now, however, the CDC has to be redesigned due to the Air Force's implementation of a more stringent code for all new CDC construction.

Currently, the United States government is operating under a continuing resolution. Under a continuing resolution, no "new starts" are permitted.

According to the Defense Acquisition University, this means new projects not previously justified by the Department of Defense and funded by Congress through the normal budget process cannot be started.

This is an issue the 52nd CES has to deal with in regards to new construction projects like the start of the design for the schools, which is the corner stone for returning the housing area to Bitburg.

"First, we have to have all new schools built here before the housing area can be returned. At present, almost 60 percent of our (children) have to go to the schools at Bitburg because we don't have sufficient classroom space here."

According to Department of Defense Dependents Schools estimates, the design phase for the new school complex will take between 14 and 18 months.

"They should have pretty good experience with how long it will take to design schools," Mr. Stuermer said. "It's their business."

New construction projects also have to go through the German government.

"DoDDS will give (the German government) a list of (architect and engineer design agencies) with good experience with school construction. That's an advantage because they won't have to reinvent the wheel," he said.

While Germany has specific codes when it comes to designing and building schools, the schools to be built on Spangdahlem have to meet U.S. codes.

"The (continuing resolution) is holding up the funding so we can start the design," Mr. Stuermer said. "You have to have design money in hand before we can actually allow the design to start. Every month that goes by is another month it's pushed to the right."

The 52nd CES's new timeline, with the design phase starting in April, forces the schedule for leaving Bitburg to shift six months. However, that's based on everything going according to plan, and experience has shown otherwise.

"We have learned, for example, the clinic that was supposed to be done in April has slipped nine months to the right," he said. "Something similar can happen to our school projects or with the commissary. This schedule is only if we have a typical, smooth process. You can't forecast what could happen."

Not every move has been affected by design changes or continuing resolutions, and many offices and organizations have moved or are moving soon to Spangdahlem from the annex.

For example, the 52nd Contracting Squadron was located on Bitburg as late as 2007, but the squadron is now located here. The building the American Forces Network will move into is currently under renovation and is expected to be completed in June.