The architectural character developed during the past century in the Northwest Florida region that surrounds Tyndall Air Force Base (AFB) reflects the functional responses to the coastal environment and incorporates available resources. This approach resulted in simple, wood-frame building forms with sloped metal roofing and clapboard or board-and-batten siding. Buildings were raised above grade away from groundwater and flooding, with front porches to encourage breezes, generous windows for daylight, light colors to reflect the sunlight, and shutters to protect the windows from storms. Buildings were arranged informally in proximity to functional relationships and had a natural connection to the environment and the coastal landscape within which they were developed. This straightforward design approach provides a historically based, sustainable, resilient blueprint for future development and the appropriate framework for architectural character in response to the harsh environment.
The complex functional requirements for mission and mission support buildings that comprise Tyndall AFB’s new and future operations and mission differ substantially from the needs that generated the regional historical structures. New designs at Tyndall AFB cannot simply replicate these indigenous forms, but must incorporate current requirements for increased performance, resiliency, sustainability, and an architectural language developed in response to these uses – from headquarters to hangars. Refer to the Performance Standards for Sustainability, Resilience, and SMART Systems for performance-based criteria, for which the architecture vernacular was developed. Future designs will provide appropriate context and opportunities for new, innovative solutions to become the Air Force’s prototypical and definitional Installation of the Future.
Buildings at Tyndall AFB are categorized into four Building Groups based on their use and according to Air Force Corporate Facilities Standards. Group 4 Family Housing is not included within the scope of this effort. This document illustrates 12 sample Building Types, listed below, that represent the broad array of facilities on the Installation. Architects are encouraged to refer to the entire architectural vocabulary across all Building Types and Groups to gain a comprehensive understanding of the architectural vocabulary. Additionally, these illustrations are not intended to provide the desired solution, but rather to provide a framework within which individual solutions may be developed that keep within the overall character appropriate for Tyndall AFB.
Group 1 buildings are high-visibility facilities that use features, materials, and details representative of their prominent function and location on the Installation. Buildings include headquarters, visitor lodging, chapel, hospital, visitor center, entry control facilities, and others as indicated. Design expression should create an architectural character using refined detailing but avoiding excessive ornamentation. As the most architecturally significant buildings within the Installation, Group 1 buildings should use all the components of the proposed architectural vocabulary and represent the complete integration of the IFS Design Principles – sustainability and resiliency, a finely tuned responsiveness to its place, a form responsive to its function, integration of vertical and horizontal design of the building into the landscape, and a focus on human scale, well-being, and walkability.
Group 2 buildings use the same design principles as Group 1 buildings to maintain a consistent character across the Installation, while employing a simpler and less prominent approach to materials and finishes. Buildings include dormitories, offices, educational and training facilities, dining facilities, and community facilities. Although less detailed and/or with focused design components, due to the number of buildings in this category and overall cost to the Installation, it is critical they reinforce the Design Principles to the same level of integration as Group 1 buildings.
Group 3 buildings are industrial, utilitarian, and high-use facilities. Buildings include hangars, maintenance facilities, and supply and storage facilities. Building designs use highly durable materials and modest detailing to endure heavy wear and frequency of use. Understated architectural features and simplified detailing may be used at main entrance façades. Although Group 3 buildings are a lower tier than other building types with simplified detail and materials, certain mission-specific uses, such as hangars, can be the most visible and at times, symbolic structures on the Installation. As such, these buildings should be treated with the same level of design character as the other building types.
The existing installation facilities are characterized by the use of a variety of materials, colors, and textures, in addition to architectural styles. The predominant existing “Heritage” color palette includes medium tan split‐face and ground face CMU, medium tan and brown brick, “Creech” brown painted exterior doors and other surfaces (named after General Creech, who implemented facility-wide use of consistent brown and sandstone colors), bronze anodized window and storefront frames, and medium bronze roofing, fascias, and soffits. In contrast to the predominant existing context of buildings with darker and warmer color tones, the new color palette, similar to the Fitness Center, uses lighter, cooler tones, while still being neutral in character appropriate to the natural environment. A mixture of materials, including split face and burnished face block, metal wall panels, and increased glazed areas, as well as integral shading devices, creates a pleasing aesthetic appropriate to the facility use as well as its coastal location.
The intent of the new color palette is to provide an updated aesthetic more representative and appealing to the airmen and women of today’s Air Force for improved morale and pride of place. The new palette creates a state-of-the art appearance that differentiates new facilities from existing while still maintaining a consistent overall architectural character across the installation.
Colors and materials indicated are not meant to be all-inclusive or proprietary, but to give direction regarding the intended color palette and development of architectural character appropriate for Tyndall AFB. For use and application of materials and additional detail, refer to the IFS, Section D – Facilities Exteriors. For technical guidelines and performance criteria, refer to Chapter 3 of the IFS Appendix – Rebuild Technical Guidelines.