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Project: Design Build Eielson Chapel Center

Design Build Eielson Chapel Center

Bristol was contracted to design and build a Replacement Chapel Center to serve all religious denominations of military personnel and their families at Eielson Air Force Base, in Fairbanks, Alaska. The new facility brings all operations of the Chapel Center, including religious services, administration, counseling, and religious education, into one consolidated facility. The project was awarded through an Alpha contract in March 2007.

Construction began in June, and continued through the winter months. Civil site work included cold-weather installation of interior slab-on-grade concrete. Bristol prepared and followed cold-weather installation procedures to place interior slab-on-grade concrete in March 2008, when temperatures in Fairbanks typically range around -8 degrees F in the evenings and 12 to 35 degrees F in the daytime.

Bristol maintained heat sources on site, including two 650,000 BTU indirect oil-fired heaters, and four 1.4 million BTU steam-fired unit heaters. Following enclosure and dry in of the structure, the entire interior of the structure was contained with sheathing to allow for the passage of equipment in and out, while being continually heated to allow for the appropriate temperature for curing during waste, vent, and under-slab electrical conduit installations. The concrete placed during cold weather was never subject to below-freezing temperatures.

CHAPEL DESIGN

The chapel design encourages flow of natural light and signifies gathering—with a shell of two curved walls positioned as if holding or protecting the interior. The main entry is identified with a bell tower. Traffic is designed to enter through the main arctic entry and flow to the heart of the building to which all other areas are connected, including the worship center, a classroom wing, an administrative wing, and all related support spaces.

The chapel was designed and constructed to achieve a minimum Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver Level rating. In 2008, the chapel design won a Pacific Air Forces Design Award in the Concept Design Category. In 2009, it was recognized by AIA Alaska with an Honor Award for Excellence in Architecture.

BETTERMENTS

Betterments achieved during the design build process included a substantially upgraded audio/video system, additional site furnishings, an upgraded exterior electronic marquis sign, additional carillon speaker system, upgraded floor coverings, and various upgraded finishes and trims.

Design Build Eielson Chapel Center Brochure (PDF, 1MB)