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***image3***As he stood in the skeletal dust-strewn site of future AAFES office
space, Bob Burns, senior project engineer for Jacobs Engineering and
provider of oversight for U.S. Air Forces in Europe, looked almost
sentimental as he surveyed the construction going on at the
Kaiserslautern Military Community Center. “That wall wasn’t here
Friday,” he said. “This is really coming together up here.”
Indeed, things are starting to gel for the KMCC, an enormous consolidated facility that will cover 844,000 square feet.
Inside the future food court, activity hums amid the large concrete
columns and cavernous glass-enclosed space. A small army of workers
produce high pitched grinding noises that mean construction in
progress.
***image1***Soon, however, this area will be vast, silent and gleaming. “The
aesthetic will be both European and American,” said Mr. Burns. “It will
kind of look like an American mall, but have a European feel.”
The KMCC will certainly provide a bright and spacious shopping
experience. Spanned by three large glass domes, its interior is lined
with storefronts. Even though the current store space is mostly
plastic-covered glass panes and concrete floors, it’s not hard to
imagine a clean, bustling future for the place.
For some parts of the KMCC, the future is now. The RTT offices are
nearly complete and boast tiered ceilings, pastel walls and lots of
space. The Outdoor Recreation climbing wall is huge – and nearly
complete – and the hardwood floors and rugged stone walls suggest
outdoor-oriented stores like REI. The restrooms are tiled and the AAFES
loading dock is nearly finished.
***image2***The KMCC interior boasts a number of cool amenities, including sections
of raised flooring that allow for lots of design flexibility. Other
portions of the floor are screed, which is a smooth, finished concrete
that is designed to allow cables to run through it.
Speaking of amenities, the KMCC Visitors Quarters are progressing
nicely, too. The main lobby features a fireplace, spiral staircase and
smooth stone facade. Work is progressing on visitor’s rooms, and the
first-floor conference rooms are starting to take shape.
Perhaps the best piece of news – especially in this long, hot summer – is that the KMCC will be air-conditioned.
