LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. –
The base's newest temporary living facility opened here April 9.
Bayview Towers, family housing for junior enlisted Airmen since the 1960s, was gutted and renovated after Tesoro Corporation received the contract, fixing what was one of Langley's worst natural disasters, Hurricane Isabel, did to the towers in 2003.
"Bayview Towers not only opened on time," said Brig. Gen. Burt Field, 1st Fighter Wing commander, "but, it's honestly the nicest TLF I have seen or heard of in any service, anywhere in my 28 years of active duty."
Eighty-seven of the 90 units at the new TLF are two-bedroom suites, and each room can comfortably house six people. Four rooms are American Disability Compliant and three are one-bedroom suites. A full-service conference room, Internet café and business center where guests can use computers, fax machines and printers, are located on the first floor along with administration and support offices for the facility. There is also a vending machine room.
"Of the $17.8 million we were allotted for the renovation, all went straight to renovation and refurbishing," said Robin Urban, Langley Air Force Inns assistant manager. "We put all the money back into the quality of life at Langley."
Nearly $15 million went to construction of the facility.
Contractors, the 1st Civil Engineer Squadron, 1st Services Squadron and Air Combat Command interior designers all contributed to the towers' completion in December 2006.
"It was a huge group effort," said Mrs. Urban. "Had we not had the support from just one of the squadrons, it wouldn't have come together this well."
The 1st Fighter Wing spent nearly $2.4 million on furnishings for the 10-story building. Each room includes amenities for temporary living, including an ironing board, washer and dryer, full service kitchen and individually controlled air conditioning.
In addition to the necessities, the towers also offer a television in each bedroom, access to the Internet, a DVD/VCR combination player, a dining room that can seat four to six people and portable play-yard for children.
"Everything for the rooms was chosen based on durability and comfort," said Mrs. Urban. "We wanted to make this as home-like as possible."
The rooms cost $37.50 per night at Bayview Towers.