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Renovated Historic Building Reopens

  • Published
  • By 375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
  • 375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. --  After more than three years of renovations, Bldg. P-4, which is one of Scott's historic structures, is once again home to 18th Air Force.

"It was worth the wait. The Mobility Airmen of 18th Air Force now have a first class building where they will oversee contingency and humanitarian operations being executed all over the world," said Lt. Gen. Carlton D. Everhart, 18th AF Commander, who officiated the ribbon cutting ceremony Monday. The 18th AF is the operational arm of Air Mobility Command and the Air Force's largest numbered Air Force.

On hand for the festivities was 101-year-old retired Col. Earl Young who served as the first interim commander to establish and lead 18th AF during the 1950s. Young was honored in another ceremony earlier Monday by Airlift/Tanker Association officials who inducted him into their Hall of Fame. Young worked alongside air mobility giants to include Generals Spaatz, Smith George and Kuter; he was also involved in establishing the air mobility framework after World War II.

"We're all here because at one point or another we were assigned jobs here that made it possible for us to enable the people who are actually out doing the work," said Young, who will turn 102 years old on July 11. "Our job was to give them their equipment, training and knowledge to do the work on a day-to-day basis that many people never hear much about. [As an example] the most recent earthquakes in the Far East hadn't settled down yet before 18th Air Force was loading up supplies, and rescuing those who could be rescued --typical 18th Air Force job that is often just taken for granted [that we're able to do it]."

Construction of Bldg. P-4 first began in September 1940 as a 43-bed hospital. With the onset of World War II, it soon proved to be inadequate to meet the demands of the large number of wounded transiting through Scott Field. More than 60 new frame buildings were built to meet the demand, but P-4 remained the base hospital until a new facility--the current medical clinic--was built in 1958. Additions were made to the east and west wings five times between 1963 and 1978, and the building has been used as office space as well as the headquarters for the 1405th Air Base Wing, the 23rd Air Force and, finally, the 18th Air Force.

The current P-4 complex had needed renovations to bring it up to many safety codes and the American's with Disabilities Act, and in 2011 a contract was awarded to bring the building up to standards, according to Don Peterson, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers resident engineer.

"It needed to become a world-class facility for the 18th Air Force Headquarters," Peterson said. "We maintained the historical appearance of the building, consistent with guidance from the State Historic Preservation Office. All of the windows on the east side of the building were retained and refinished and all of the exterior brickwork was kept to maintain its historical splendor."

Working to maintain P-4's historical integrity and to also balance bringing the building up to code was an opportunity that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the 375th Civil Engineer Squadron, the 18th Air Force and several contractors involved said they embraced.

"It was an important and enjoyable project to complete," said Peterson. "We needed to cooperate and communicate through the challenges and successes."

Cheryl Majka, 375th CES Chief of Engineering, was in charge of all of the contracted construction for the P-4 complex renovations. The 375th CES programmed the work, obtained approval from the Secretary of the Air Force for the project, and worked with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to design and construct a total renovation of the historic facility.

Bringing the building up to code for seismic protections was the biggest challenge because the plan had to be reworked several times to meet the standards, said Majka.

"Seismic protection refers to additional structural bracing to reduce the risk of damage from earthquakes," she explained. "Scott lies in a major seismic zone due to the New Madrid fault line. There is a potential for a major earthquake in the region, so buildings are now built to reduce the impact of an earthquake and to protect the building occupants by not collapsing."

The renovation also provided firewalls to prevent potential fires from spreading to the other areas of the building and the stairwells provide much safer exits from the facility than before.
Majka said that her favorite part of the renovation is not inside the building at all.

"My favorite part of the project is the courtyard behind the building. It will provide a unique and pleasing outdoor space that adds to the beauty and appeal of the historic district on Scott."

At the ceremony, Everhart lauded the efforts of all those involved in the project to renovate the more than 40,000 square-foot building, adding that "this building in front of you is not just a collection of brick and mortar, it is a touchstone of Air Force history, and it is a link to our heritage. It is from this historical structure that the men and women of 18th Air Force will continue to make history."