New fitness center coming to Malmstrom; Design mirrors Great Fall's PEAK but incorporates military standards

  • Published
  • By Valerie Mullett
  • 341st Space Wing Public Affairs
MALMSTROM AFB, Mont. --  
Construction officially began on the new 55,000 square-foot fitness center here with a ground-breaking ceremony Wednesday. 

Phase one of a proposed two-phase military construction project, an out-of-cycle project, is scheduled to be completed in a year, or April 2008. 

"Normally it takes five or more years to get a project of this size funded," said 2nd Lt. Lawrence Wyatt, 341st Civil Engineer Squadron. "We got this funded ahead of schedule." 

The contract was awarded in a speedy fashion as well. 

"We take a 10 percent design and put it out on the street in a request for proposal to get bids," said Lieutenant Wyatt. "This saves time since the design is less extensive and it can be bid quicker." 

"What normally happens is an architect teams up with a construction contractor and they submit a proposed design based on the set dollar amount provided," he continued. "The best plan wins." 

Talcott Construction Company and L'Heureux, Page and Werner Architects were awarded this $12+ million contract. 

The current facility, which was constructed in 1957, is not adequately meeting the needs of the community since former Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John Jumper proclaimed that fitness "is not about passing a fitness test once a year ... this is about our preparedness to deploy and fight ... that makes fitness a daily standard." 

This new facility will increase the options for regular fitness routines during the extended winter months typical of a northern tier base. 

The raw drawing above shows the basic layout of the new facility. 

Contained within it will be three regulation-sized basketball courts; two that go end-to-end as indicated that can be divided down the center by a curtain when necessary. 

"The new courts will allow us to conduct our intramural basketball program on one court while freeing up the other court for common use at the same time," explained George Bermudez, Fitness and Sports Center director. 

"If we were ever to get a varsity basketball program here, the court is also adaptable to support that, as well," he said. 

Bleachers that surround two of the four sides on each court are capable of seating 200 people each. 

Suspended above the main floor to the right of the basketball courts will be a four-lane, one-eighth of a mile per lap running track. 

On the main floor itself are the senior leader locker rooms, complete with sauna and steam room (top left of the main floor drawing) and regular use men's and women's locker rooms, also complete with a sauna and steam room (bottom center of the main floor drawing). 

An expanded exercise and group physical training area is located between the two locker room areas while a much expanded weight room and resistance training area wraps around the men's and women's locker room area. 

"This new set up will be much like you find at the PEAK downtown," Mr. Bermudez said. "Except we will have ours arranged and maintained to military standards, which are different than what they have to adhere to on the private side. We will also have double the amount of equipment than we have now." 

Even after the new facility is completed, the current facility will still be used. 

"All of the cardio functions as well as the spinning classes and aerobics rooms, racquetball courts and upper gym will still be operated from this facility," Mr. Bermudez said. "We have a year to plan for the total operational picture." 

"We are excited about being able to provided Malmstrom's warriors with a state-of-the-art venue to maintain their physical fitness. The added space and updated features of the new center will greatly enhance everyone's workout experience," said Maj. Rosalyn Walker, 341st Services Squadron commander. 

"It has been a pleasure working collectively with the Services personnel during the development of this project. Their professionalism and enthusiasm make our jobs easier," said Joe Bradley, 341st Civil Engineer Squadron mechanical engineer.

Editor's Note: Patrons are reminded to abide by the rules concerning construction zones. While the initial stages of the project will be to remove the existing tennis courts and get the site prepared, as progress is made, more and more areas at the north side of the gym will be closed off. This will eventually include the parking lot servicing the outdoor swimming pool. Watch for future construction updates here and on the Malmstrom Web site at www.malmstrom.af.mil for information.