Freshening up Eielson's dorms

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Janine Thibault
  • 354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  Two of Eielson's dormitories are currently undergoing remodeling to improve living quarters for Airmen.

Buildings 2315 and 2333 will receive construction to the interior of the buildings, giving the inside a more updated look. They will receive new plumbing, sinks, flooring and will ultimately have better airflow. These features will improve the overall appeal of the room as well as durability and efficiency.

During the construction of building 2315, the bare dorms lacked any semblance to the living space once occupied by Airmen. The walls have been stripped of paint, floors are void of tiles or carpet and furniture and countertops have been removed. All that remains in the building are the electrical components.

"The renovations made will give Airmen more space in their rooms and more stability," said John Moriarty, 354th Civil Engineer Squadron project engineer.

Currently the other building awaits construction and serves as a contingency dorm occupied by exercise attendees from sister services.

Airmen have already been moved into their rooms in the dorms renovated over the past year. Dorms go through periodic renovations to allow the inside to be restored to good condition.

Tim Jauhola, the Innovative Technical Solutions Inc. superintendent, understands the impact of the completed project on the lives of dorm-dwelling Airmen.

"These renovations keep the area nice for [Airmen]. Even though they live in a dorm, it can still be appealing," said Mr. Jauhola.

By replacing vinyl with ceramic tiles in the bathrooms, not only is maintenance easier for the occupants, but the tiles are more durable and last longer. The completed buildings will also boast new plumbing, sinks and cabinets.

With all the renovations being made to the inner workings of the building, the outer structure of the dorms remains sound.

There will be new doors, locking mechanisms and blackout shades. Almost all the fixtures will be brand new. Not all the wiring will be replaced because some of it is still serviceable. The heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems are brand new, however the buildings will now have whole-house ventilation.

One of the problems in dorms is that even when the windows are open the air is stagnant. This will help the dorm residents in the summer when it is warm.

Steam heat is not as comfortable or as efficient, so the new heating system will use glycol circulating through heating lines so more hot water will be available faster to the rooms.

The rooms will not be redesigned; there will still be 57 rooms at the conclusion of the project.

Upon completion, the dorms will be in top condition and will once again be ready to house Icemen.

The long-term plan is that these older buildings will be torn down and redesigned so they resemble the new dorms on Wabash Ave.

New housing, the new chapel, and newly defined streets only scratch the surface of changes recently made to the base. Modifications to the base are made constantly to ensure the base stays up to date and in top condition.