The $48 million Seymour Johnson Air Force Base Medical Clinic, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers project, earned the 2019 United States Air Force (USAF) Design Award for facility design.
Each year, the Air Force program recognizes and promotes projects achieving USAF design excellence goals related to the natural and built environment.
“The winning projects exemplify the Air Force's continued commitment to providing quality facilities that are truly ‘resource efficient’ and built to last,” said Terry G. Edwards, director, Air Force Civil Engineer Center, in a congratulatory email. “They were judged not only on their aesthetic merits, but strong emphasis was placed on cost control, energy efficiency, functionality and sustainability.”
The clinic, named in memory of Maj. Thomas Koritz, a fallen flight surgeon assigned to the 335th Fighter Squadron at Seymour Johnson AFB, was completed by the Corps’ Savannah District in June 2018. The 110,000 square foot facility has 24 centers, including flight medicine, family health, pediatrics, women's health, pharmacy and radiology, and serves active duty and retired military members as well as their dependents.
The new clinic replaces a 50-year-old obsolete facility, which was initially built to serve as a primary inpatient clinic, but no longer served its purpose once the clinic’s mission shifted to outpatient serves.
“We took all of the existing traditional architectural features on base and incorporated them into a new and innovative world class medical facility that shows the quality of the medical services that are currently being offered there,” said Corps Project Manager Demetrius Huddleston.
While Seymour Johnson AFB installation standards influenced much of the clinic’s design, Huddleston said the facility includes some unique architectural features which make it stand out from other facilities on base.
The one and a half story building includes an open area for Commander’s calls and a 40,000 square foot green vegetative roof. Unlike traditional roofs, Huddleston said the green roof helps to reduce energy costs and provides natural insulation for the building.
Other features include an open atrium space, large green campus and large areas of shaded glass for daylight and views, and energy efficient mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems.
With its many eco-friendly features, the facility meets the criteria for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Silver Certification.
Huddleston, said that the innovative design and layout makes the new facility more esthetically pleasing than the previous clinic.
“The older building had an institutional and cold feeling, while the new facility is more inviting and pleasant,” said Huddleston. “It’s a place where you wouldn’t mind waiting in because it’s just so pleasant to be in that space.”
The award will be presented to the Corps Dec. 4 during a ceremony in San Antonio, Texas.