Scott AFB breaks ground on new Visiting Quarters Published March 16, 2016 By Senior Airman Jake Eckhardt 375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- A groundbreaking ceremony took place March 11 for a new Visiting Quarters located between the dormitories and the Metro train station at Scott Air Force Base. The five-story building will have 284 rooms, lobby, guest laundry and administrative areas and encompass 171,535 square feet. It will replace the Scott Inn on Scott Drive. It will replace the Scott Inn on Scott Drive. "We are entering a bright future and a new chapter for Scott lodging," said Col. Laura Lenderman, 375th Air Mobility Wing commander. "To say the least, the Visiting Quarters will be nothing short of Showcase Ready." Safety concerns and economic issues are the biggest reasons for the new facility. Over 50 renovations were made to the Scott Inn over its 61 years. "Our engineers spend a lot of time fixing problems at the Scott Inn," said 1st Lt. Ben Liptak, 375th Civil Engineer Squadron major construction program OIC. "Rather than limping it along, we're going to save a lot of time, effort, and money in the long run by having a new facility." Two buildings of the Scott Inn have already been demolished, while the rest are scheduled to be torn down after the new building is completed in late 2017. The location of the new building will be ideal for servicemembers visiting Scott for both professional and personal reasons. "The location of the Visiting Quarters is prime," Liptak said. "Members coming here could land at Lambert Airport in St. Louis, take the Metro, which would drop them off here. They would have the dining facility, gym, track, the Exchange and commissary right there." Construction is scheduled to be completed by Oct. 26, 2017.