JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas – The Air Force Civil Engineer Center announced the winners of the 2024 Department of the Air Force Design Awards on Dec. 20, recognizing five projects that demonstrated outstanding achievement in design, sustainability and energy efficiency.
The AFCEC Facility Engineering Directorate, which is responsible for the design, construction and management of enterprise-wide infrastructure programs, manages the annual awards program on behalf of DAF.
“This year’s winning projects demonstrate exceptional designs that meet operational needs while also improving mission readiness, quality of life and preparing our installations for future challenges,” said Dr. Timothy Sullivan, director of the Facility Engineering Directorate. “Modernizing our infrastructure is vital for maintaining a combat-ready force and the upgrades are critical in building a more agile and resilient Air Force and Space Force.”
The DAF Design Awards honor and showcase innovative solutions for creating high-performance facilities that exemplify outstanding architectural and construction practices in compliance with the Department of Defense and Air Force criteria to meet evolving needs of the Air and Space Forces.
This year’s recipients across two categories – Facilities New Construction and Facilities Renovations and Additions – are:
2024 Honor Awards
Facilities New Construction Category: KC-135 Maintenance Hangar & Shops, McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base, Tennessee
Facilities New Construction Category: Force Support Squadron Annex, Whiteman AFB, Missouri
2024 Merit Awards
Facilities New Construction Category: New KC-46A Hangar, Travis AFB, California
Facilities Renovations and Additions Category: Multiple Medical Facilities Modernization, Edwards AFB, California
2024 Citation Award
Facilities New Construction Category: Special Tactics Squadron Operations Facility, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington
“This program recognizes exemplary facility excellence at our installations,” said Cheon-Joo Lee, DAF Design Awards program manager. “The winning designs excelled in blending functionality, sustainability, climate resilience, cost control and energy efficiency.”
A panel of experts from AFCEC’s Standards & Evaluation Branch evaluated all submissions for aesthetic impact, material selection, cost-effectiveness over the life cycle and ability to meet long-term performance goals.
The panel had high praise for the designs that effectively balanced durability, functionality and sustainability.
“We were impressed by the variety of submissions, each showcasing the DAF’s dedication to building resilient and sustainable facilities,” Lee said. “These projects demonstrate a thorough understanding of what it takes to create sustainable, mission-ready facilities that will serve the Air and Space Forces for years to come.”
The official presentation of the awards will take place during the annual Air Force Facility Engineering Training & Partnering Symposium Feb. 25-27, 2025, in San Antonio.
