CES begins Austin Ellipse building demolition

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jessica Lawson
  • 23rd Wing Public Affairs
MOODY AIR FORCE BASE,Ga. --  Moody took another step toward completing its new Heritage Center recently when demolition began on one of the four buildings inside the base's Austin Ellipse.

During a visit to the base Jan. 15, Brig. Gen. Timothy Byers, Air Combat Command's director of Installations and Mission Support, ceremonially began the demolition project, marking the end of these buildings' impressive résumés.

The four structures, which currently house the base library, 93rd Air Ground Operations Wing headquarters and the Child Development Care Annex, date back to the earliest days of the base and were built by German prisoners of war.

Although these buildings hold significant historical value to Moody, renovation would cost far more than demolition, said Maj. Eric Turner, 23rd Civil Engineer Squadron deputy base engineer.

"These buildings were built 67 years ago and renovation and upkeep on these structures would cost too much money and manpower," Major Turner said. "In the long run, replacing these buildings with new buildings saves Moody approximately $2 million."

The first building scheduled for demolition is Building 102. The vacant building has housed numerous organizations such as the base headquarters, Group Training headquarters and Education Center. In 1996, the building became the home of the base legal office until it moved to the new Parker Greene Base Support Center in September 2007.

The opening of the base support center also allowed Moody to meet command requirements for more efficient facilities.

"Consolidating many customer service and administration activities into the Parker Greene Base Support Center this fall helped Moody reduce base footprint, centralize functions and resources, and save dollars to reinvest where needed," said General Byers. "This contributes directly to ACC's goal of reducing its facility footprint by 20 percent by 2020."

Located on Austin Ellipse, these four buildings have historically represented the center of the base. The Heritage Center, when finished, will continue this tradition by showcasing Moody's history and on-going mission.

"The Heritage Center project is in the base's long-range comprehensive plan and will progress over several years," Major Turner said. "The vision for the ellipse area is to demolish the old buildings between 2008 and 2010, and to try to start on the center as soon as the site is cleared."

Although Moody will be losing part of its structural history, the Heritage Center will continue to provide a visual history of the base for years to come, he said.