Ground breaking to mark start of history making construction Published May 30, 2008 By Derek Kaufman 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- The largest base construction project here since World War II will kick off with a ground breaking ceremony for the 711th Human Performance Wing complex June 16 at 10 a.m. The ground breaking is not open to the general public, however invited guests, as well as interested base employees, retirees and family members authorized base access are welcome to attend. The Walsh Group of Chicago, parent of the joint venture of Archer Western Contractors, LTD. and Butt Construction Company, Inc., of Dayton, Ohio, received the contract award for approximately $195 million design-build project from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on April 16. The approximately 680,000 square foot complex is to be constructed in the northeastern corner of Wright-Patterson's Area "B" and will house the newly established 711th Human Performance Wing as well as the Navy's Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory and the Air Force's Physiological Training Unit. The mission consolidation was directed by Base Realignment and Closure Commission 2005 decisions. Under the terms of the contract, Archer Western and Butt Construction will have about 2 ½ years to complete the facilities by early 2011. Representatives from Walsh, the Corps of Engineers Louisville District Office, 88th Air Base Wing, Air Force Research Laboratory and U.S. Navy will participate in the ceremony, scheduled to last about an hour near the site of the huge military construction project at the corner of Fifth Street and Hobson Way in Area B. Base personnel are to park in the parking lots near the Flywright Sports Club and AFIT at 10th Street and Hobson Way. Shuttle service will be provided to the ceremony site. The ceremony site is near the recently demolished Bldg 430, former Airman Leadership School's parking lot, which is reserved exclusively for distinguished visitors with a parking pass. "Shortly after this ceremony, we expect construction on the Human Performance Wing complex to begin in earnest," said Jacqueline Fisher, 88th Air Base Wing BRAC office director. "This event is a giant step in our getting ready to stand up new missions and establish Wright-Patt as centers of excellence for human performance and sensors research. The 711th HPW complex is truly going to be home to a world-class research facility." The BRAC decisions directed that 311th Human Systems Wing functions at Brooks City-Base, Texas relocate to Wright-Patterson. The 711th Human Performance Wing officially stood up at Wright-Patterson March 25, 2008, reporting to Air Force Research Laboratory headquarters here. The 711th HPW combines the AFRL's Human Effectiveness Directorate with units from the 311th Human Systems Wing at Brooks, including the U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine, Air Force Institute of Operational Health and the 311th Performance Enhancement Directorate. Additionally BRAC will move the Warfighter Readiness Research Division from Mesa, Arizona and the Air Force's Physiological Training Unit at Holloman AFB NM to Wright-Patterson by 2011. Butt Construction was previously awarded a related $13.8 million infrastructure construction project in support of BRAC which is ongoing. It involves steam, roadway, storm sewer, sanitary sewer, water line, and electrical line relocation and improvements in Area B.