Mission Control

When the Little Rock Air Force Base (LRAFB) C-130 Fuselage Trainer Facility is fully operational in April 2024, the base will have the state-of-the-art facilities necessary to support the C-130 H/J series training mission.

What has allowed this project to take flight, however, is Garver’s Facilities Design Team – and by extension, Alternative Project Delivery (APD). By adopting a Design-Build (DB) approach and integrating the contracts of both designer and contractor, key voices have been allowed to provide input throughout the process, thereby streamlining the project as a whole.

As the design firm, Garver managed and performed all architectural and engineering services, overseeing the entire design effort. It’s the “tip of the spear,” as Garver’s Director of Architecture Greg Archer, AIA, LEED AP, puts it, to ensure the design is completed per the RFP requirements.

In that respect, the DB approach and traditional delivery methods are similar, but ultimately, there are key differences.

“You’re still going through a design process and producing construction documents that define the requirements to a level that a contractor can build a facility,” Archer said. “But in a Design-Build scenario, you do that in conjunction with the contractor that will be building the project. You receive their input during the design phase, with a focus on technical and constructability viewpoints.”

Located on the northeastern corner of the LRAFB, the new 128,500-square-foot facility will house seven C-130 fuselage trainers, including four J-model and three H-model trainers.

The $35 million facility will provide modernized training for loadmaster personnel – including all-weather and night vision operations.

In addition, there will be space for classrooms, briefing rooms, secure rooms, offices, restrooms, storage, communication equipment, electrical/mechanical rooms, and general circulation. Although APD continues to evolve, when it comes to the work that Garver’s Facilities Design Team does for the federal government, APD is the standard – and has been since the beginning.

However, Archer said, what’s more important than the new facility are the opportunities that it will provide for our men and women in uniform.

“It’s a great training resource for our men and women at Little Rock Air Force Base who are protecting us, making sure we stay safe and enjoy the freedoms that we have,” Archer said. “It’s helping them expand and enhance their mission.”