Grizzly Bend receives AF Design Merit Award

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Katrina Heikkinen
  • 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  The Malmstrom Air Force Base Grizzly Bend was recently announced a 2013 Merit Award winner of the 2013 Air Force Design Awards, by Maj. Gen. Theresa Carter, Air Force Civil Engineer chief of staff for logistics, installations and mission support.

"These winning projects represent the Air Force's continued commitment to providing quality facilities that are truly resource efficient and built to last," Carter said. "They were judged not only on their aesthetic merits, but strong emphasis was placed on cost control, energy efficiency, functionality and sustainability."

The design awards were presented in three levels. The Grizzly Bend was awarded the merit, or second level award, for facility design as a community activities center.

"The Grizzly Bend Community Activity Center is the showpiece of Malmstrom Air Force Base," said Col. Monte Harner, 341st Mission Support Group commander. "It is a beautiful and elegant facility with a rustic appeal perfectly suited for Montana. It is a great place for our Airmen and their families to host formal events, organize casual gatherings or simply relax."
The nearly 22,000 gross square-foot Grizzly Bend is a general-purpose facility that provides services such as seasonal base-wide events, cultural programs and services for groups.

"The Community Activity Center provides a welcoming centralized location for Malmstrom Air Force Base business meetings, squadron functions and evening family entertainment," said Lt. Col. Walter Gibbons, 341st Civil Engineer Squadron commander. "Reflecting Montana's rugged outdoors, its gleaming copper-colored roof adorns the rough log beams and rock column entry.

"Purposefully designed to pull the base community together, this captivating facility offers a full service kitchen, ballroom/meeting room that seats 600, dining and lounge area, activity rooms and conference rooms," he added. "The handsome, interior accents of rock and pine artistically wrap the sustainable designed super-insulated walls that maximize the energy efficiency of this warm and inviting facility."