Tyndall Air Force Base is located on East Peninsula, which is 12 miles southeast of Panama City, Florida. It is home to the U.S. Air Force’s 325th Fighter Wing, activated in 1981 to provide unrivaled combat airpower for the U.S. In 2018, the base sustained a direct hit from Hurricane Michael, resulting in 484 damaged buildings and the removal of 792,450 cubic yards of debris. The impact of the hurricane caused extensive damage to the base’s operations, facilities, infrastructure, and natural resources. Air Force leaders from the 325th Fighter Wing and the Tyndall Program Management Office supported and encouraged the redevelopment of the air force base to be the “Installation of the Future,” including resilient construction that could withstand the impacts of future inclement weather.
Dewberry and CHA Consulting, Inc., a design joint venture, have been supporting the Lane Construction team by providing engineering services for the design-build construction of Tyndall Air Force Base Zone 4.1. This project is the infrastructure and utility package for the entire $5 billion rebuild program with the goal of creating a stronger, more efficient, and innovative 21st century base to serve as the new standard for U.S. Department of Defense installations.
Importance of Collaboration in Alternative Delivery Projects
Design-build is now one of the fastest and most commonly used project delivery methods in the U.S. Unlike other traditional project delivery methods, design-build features a single contract for design and construction. This project delivery method requires a different mindset as well.
Alternative delivery is built on strong collaboration, trust, mutual respect, communication, and creative critical thinking skills. Design-build works best when all stakeholders function as a single entity focused on achieving shared project goals."
Andy Kioko
The Tyndall Air Force Base project is unique compared to other design-build work due to its complexity. It involves multiple packages that are advancing simultaneously to meet the utility need-by dates set by the Air Force, allowing the various new facilities under construction to be completed on schedule. Our firm is providing engineering design for site work, including storm drainage, road work, landscape architecture, and environmental permitting. CHA Consulting, Inc., along with other subconsultants, are providing utility design, including water, electrical, communications, and sanitary as well as architectural design for a booster pump station and electrical switchyard control building.
Aerial view of storm pond construction. Photo courtesy of Aero Photo.
Due to the multiple disciplines involved, large geographical footprint, and adjacent ongoing construction, the project’s scope is exceptionally complex. To move the project along, it’s critical for designers to coordinate moving parts of the project so that internal stakeholders are connected and communicating changes as they happen. On-site, changes may take place on a daily basis due to field conditions. These changing conditions require our team to react quickly and adjust. To accomplish this, our team has established a strong connection with the contractors as we identify issues and create a solution together. This includes our team having daily conversations, especially now that construction is underway, to keep the full team on schedule and to meet the design intent.
Alternative Delivery Impact on Client Relationships
Alternative delivery has also positively impacted our relationship with our clients at all levels as a result of elevated transparency and communications practices. Our client’s willingness to communicate has allowed us to discuss technical and administrative issues on a weekly basis. Since the delivery method encourages the involvement of clients early on in the project process, we have been able to make them aware of our designs and knowledgeable of what work will be presented with the final deliverables. With client feedback in hand, we are able to help move the schedule along.
The Tyndall Air Force Base project is a great example of how our firm’s offices can come together as one to take on a large-scale project. Collaborative support was critical in making this project successful and reaffirmed our firm’s ability to work together to accomplish our client’s goals. We’re looking forward to completing this project in 2026 and applying these successes to additional large-scale projects in the future.