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Progress Visible At P-8 Integrated Training Center

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS100812-26
8/12/2010

By Clark Pierce, Naval Air Station Jacksonville Public Affairs

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (NNS) -- The first walls and structural steel of the future P-8 Integrated Training Center are taking shape aboard Naval Air Station Jacksonville.

The $38-million, 165,000-square-foot facility is scheduled for completion in the summer of 2011 and
will support the next generation of aircrew, mission operators and maintainers in the Navy's Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Force.

"So far, we've not experienced any construction delays and expect all the exterior walls to be completed before the end of September," said Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Southeast Civil Engineer Celio Cedeno.

The building's east side consists of two stories for classroom and administration spaces. The west side will be an open bay that houses 10 flight simulators, eight weapons tactics simulators and four other trainers — in addition to all the computer equipment needed to operate the various simulators.

The large concrete wall panels (called "tilt-ups") are poured horizontally on site where they cure for about eight days until they are tilted up by a crane and secured into place by a network of steel beams.

The project is designed to achieve the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) gold award for new construction. LEED is a third-party certification program and the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings.

Its criteria emphasize site, design and construction considerations such as access to transportation, water and energy conservation, and utilization of recycled materials. LEED's growing popularity signals a new approach to development that creates healthier spaces for its occupants and has a lighter impact on the environment.

Cedeno said another construction project aboard NAS Jacksonville is also making significant progress.

"Our other construction site, across from the bowling center and gymnasium, is also on schedule," Cedeno said. "It is a 'green' parking lot with underground rainwater collection bladders — instead of retention ponds.

Cedeno said he expects the new parking spaces to be available for the upcoming air show scheduled for Oct. 23-24 aboard NAS Jacksonville.