Special Tactics Advanced Skills
Training Facility
Hurlburt Field, Florida

This project provides academic and functional training facilities supporting the essential advanced tactical enabling operations for Air Expeditionary Forces and Lead Mobility Wings. This program provides professional development training in Special Tactics Combat Control, Combat Weather and ParaRescue skill areas. STOA Architects provided design services for the 46,000 square-foot facility, which includes administrative offices, instructor's offices, classrooms, team rooms, an ATC Simulator, auditorium support spaces and an indoor pool. The new facility will be used by the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron/Advanced Skills Training Group at Hurlburt Field. The building supports 120 students per year through 4 phases of the Advanced Skills Training Program, which is taught simultaneously to 4 classes of approximately 30 students.

Site improvements include excavation and grading for the building, pool, new walks/drives, parking, and landscaping. Potential contaminants from an adjacent abandoned landfill site affected both the footing design and excavation depths for the pool, buildings and parking. To prevent the costly excavation of potential contaminants, 4'-0" of fill was brought to the site.

The A/E Team completed the Programming/Design Charrette for this project prior to development of the construction documents. The design provides a dynamic and functional, cost effective solution that incorporates the user's needs and program requirements. The administrative and logistics areas, lockers and pool are located on the 1st floor. The classroom and academic support spaces are located on the 2nd floor. The design of the building will accommodate future expansion on the limited site. The indoor training pool was designed to satisfy the user's needs while maintaining the minimum requirements for competitive swimming use. The pool depth is 5' and 10', with a standing ledge along the sides at the deep end. A below-water viewing window is also included at the deep end of the pool.