Attachment_18_-_LRAFB_Architectural_Compatibility_Guide.pdf

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

To understand architectural compatibility and how it affects the Air Force, an understanding of the term is necessary.

Compatible is generally defined as “the ability to exist and perform in harmonious combination”. Architectural compatibility results from designing and building facilities in harmony with their natural and man-made surroundings and environment. Architectural compatibility is concerned not only with the physical appearance of buildings, but with site planning, landscape development, security and sustainability.

Military installations should provide efficient and pleasant physical environments conducive to attracting and retaining skilled and motivated personnel. The design, location and maintenance of individual elements such as buildings, roads, parking lots, signs and landscaping establish the quality of the environment. Each of the elements should be functional, attractive and harmonious with each other. This helps to create an environment that enhances the capability of the installations to support their mission and fosters pride in and a commitment to military service.

Adoption of these guidelines by base leadership will ensure compliance and result in a homogeneous community fabric that improves overall installation appearance and mission effectiveness.

Specific study objectives include:

• Promote the sense of a unified community by strengthening the prevailing character of the base

• Define goals and objectives leading to more consistency for leadership decision-making

• Provide a view of the base in terms of Visual Districts

• Discuss recommended architectural themes for each Visual

District

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Purpose

1.2 Use & Implementation

2 BASE INFORMATION

2.1 Installation Profile

2.1.1 Location

2.1.2 Mission Summary

2.1.3 History of Base

2.2 Local Characteristics

2.2.1 Climate & Weather

2.2.2 Prevailing Architectural Character

2.2.3 Topography

3 ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN GUIDELINES

3.1 Landscape/Site Design

3.1.1 Introduction

3.1.2 Installation Boundaries

3.1.3 Circulation

3.1.4 Open Spaces

3.1.5 Planting

3.1.6 Xeriscaping

3.1.7 Exterior Signs

3.1.8 Site Furniture

3.1.9 Site Lighting

3.1.10 Visual Clutter

3.2 Force Protection

3.3 Sustainable Design

3.4 Building Design Standards

3.4.1 Introduction

3.4.2 Context

3.4.3 Building Siting

3.4.4 Building Form & Mass

3.4.5 Scale

3.4.6 Facades

3.4.7 Roofs & Related Elements

3.4.8 Materials

3.4.9 Texture

3.4.10 Color

3.4.11 Interior Design

3.4.12 Interior Materials and Colors

3.5 Visual Districts

3.5.1 Introduction

3.5.2 Headquarters and Training District – District 1

3.5.3 Student Life District – District 2

3.5.4 Community District – District 3

3.5.5 Mission Support Facilities District – District 4

3.5.6 Flightline District – District 5

3.5.7 Community Support District – District 6

3.5.8 Family Housing District – District 7

4 PLANNING AND DESIGN RESOURCES

Architectural Compatibility Guidelines – June, 2006 Page 3 of 76 Little Rock Air Force Base

1.1 PURPOSE

The purpose of the Architectural Compatibility Guide (ACG) is to establish and document installation-specific standards and provide a tool to assure these standards are consistently applied. The ACG strives to recognize the cultural, environmental, climatic and existing facility conditions particular to Little Rock AFB and define the appropriate styles, finishes, and materials to be used to achieve the best facility life-cycle costs and still retain the appropriate environment for people to achieve their highest productivity and efficiency.

• Provide a record of established goals, objectives, and decisions leading to more consistent decisions when a change in installation leadership occurs.

• Improve the environment through the installation’s construction projects.

• Provide a mechanism for environmental design continuity.

• Develop a baseline for review and, if necessary, for changes that may occur as a result of redirection in goals and objectives.

• Establish consistency in installation development which takes into account all elements of the environment.

• Influence design expression. These principles should not be so specific that design freedom is restricted. A designer should have sufficient latitude for creativity.

• Provide clear and consistent communication between the Air Force and designers, whether they are in-house or contracted professionals.

• Improve programming and budgeting by limiting the range of options and promoting consistency.

• Impart a sense of pride, organization, vitality, and good management. The installation should convey the feeling that it is a good place to work and live.

It should reflect a leadership that cares about its people.

1 Introduction

Architectural Compatibility Guidelines – June, 2006 Page 4 of 76

1.2 USE & IMPLEMENTATION

The ACG is a tool to chart a course towards installation excellence and provides a means to assess the installation’s progress in achieving that end. The ACG is intended to be used at all stages of the facility delivery process from programming through construction, and even operations and maintenance. It is essential that the ACG be provided to the design agent and AE consultants early in the design process to assure that the entire design team understands the applicable design standards and objectives for the project.

The ACG is by no means a stand-alone document. It should always be used in conjunction with the planning and design resources found in chapter 4 of this document to ensure compliance with Base standards and goals.

Implementing a strict design review process is important to ensure the Architectural Compatibility Plan is followed as projects are conceived, designed, and constructed. The flowchart to the left outlines the typical process for ensuring compliance with this guide.

YES

Determine which Visual District the proposed site falls in

Read and understand the requirements of the ACG

Determine the architectural parameters appropriate for that Visual District

Develop conceptual design which addresses the stated objectives for the Visual

District

Submit design to the design review board

Does the design comply with the specific design parameters laid out in the ACG?

Continue to review project for compliance throughout the construction process

NO

Architectural Compatibility Guidelines – June, 2006 Page 5 of 76

2.1 INSTALLATION PROFILE

2.1.1 LOCATION

Located in central Arkansas, Little Rock Air Force Base resides 17 miles northeast of the capital city, Little Rock, and adjacent to the city of Jacksonville.

2.1.2 MISSION SUMMARY

Little Rock Air Force Base is the home of the 314th Airlift Wing, the 463rd Airlift Group, the U.S. Air Force Mobility Weapons School and the 189th Airlift Wing (Arkansas Air National Guard), which all reports to Air Education and Training Command.

The 314th Airlift Wing is composed of three C-130 flying squadrons—the 48th, 53rd and 62nd Airlift Squadrons. It is the premier C-130 training base in the Department of Defense, training C-130 crew members from all branches of the service and the U.S. Coast Guard, as well as students from 28 allied nations.

2.1.3 HISTORY OF BASE

The 463rd Airlift Group is composed of two flying squadrons—the 50th and 61st Airlift Squadrons. These squadrons are operational and deploy throughout the world. The U.S. Air Mobility Weapons School provides C-130 aircrew members with graduate-level instruction in C-130 tactical employment. The 189th Airlift Wing works in conjunction with the 314th Airlift Wing.

In late 1951, after learning of the Air Force’s desire for a new base in the central United States, local leaders sent a letter to the Secretary of the Air Force urging serious consideration of the Little Rock area. In an ambitious move, the local leaders convinced Pentagon officials that funds would be raised locally, and the land would be purchased and donated to the Air Force.

In January 1952, the Air Force agreed to the proposal, and local citizens went to work.

In September 1955, the base was opened to air traffic.

In a special ceremony, local leaders and assigned personnel welcomed the arrival of the RB-47 aircraft.

The initial reconnaissance mission eventually switched to a purely training mission.

2 Base Information

Architectural Compatibility Guidelines – June, 2006 Page 6 of 76

While Little Rock AFB was still home to two Stratojet wings, The Air Force decided to base 18 Titan II Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles in underground silos around the base. Work began on the silos in January 1961. Once construction was completed, crews supported the ICBM mission for over 23 years.

In 1962, the Arkansas Air National Guard became a presence at Little Rock AFB. The Air Force moved the Lockheed C-130 Hercules aircraft to Little Rock AFB in 1970.

In April 1997, the 314th Airlift Wing transferred to Air Education and Training Command. The 463d Airlift Group was activated at the base as a tenant under AMC, and the 50th and 61st Airlift Squadrons were reassigned from the 314 AW to the 463 AG.

Finally, CADS was realigned under AMC’s Air Mobility Warfare Center. The purpose of these changes was to move the C-130 schoolhouse under AETC while retaining AMC’s control over operational aspects of C-130 operations.

In October 2008, the host Command changed again when the 19 AW became the Host Wing under AMC and the 314 AW became an associate tenant unit.

Since its official opening in October 1955, Little Rock AFB has been a valuable component of US air power.

From the first day a B-47 went on alert in 1956 until the final Titan II went off alert in 1987, the men and women of The Rock were on the front lines of the Cold War and played a vital role in winning it. Peace is protected through readiness, and Little Rock AFB has always been ready.

Architectural Compatibility Guidelines – June, 2006 Page 7 of 76

2.2 LOCAL CHARACTERISTICS

Arkansas has a temperate climate, warmer and more humid in the southern lowlands than in the mountainous regions. At Little Rock, the normal daily temperature ranges from 40°F (4°C) in January to 81°F (27°C) in July.

.2.1 CLIMATE & WEATHER

Average yearly precipitation is approximately 45 inches in the mountainous areas and greater in the lowlands; Little Rock receives an annual average yearly precipitation of 50.9 inches, with an average relative humidity ranging from 84% at 7 AM to 57% at 1 PM. Snowfall averages 5.2 inches a year.

2.2.2 PREVAILING ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER

There are two predominant architectural styles of the buildings at Little Rock AFB, brick buildings and industrial buildings with painted siding.

The brick buildings range in height from one to three stories.

Most of these buildings are simple in form with punched windows and sloped metal roofs. The industrial buildings vary in size from small one-story buildings to large airplane hangers.

2.2.3 TOPOGRAPHY

The Boston Mountains (an extension of the Ozark Plateau, sometimes called the Ozark Mountains) in the northwest and the Ouachita Mountains in the west-central region not only constitute Arkansas's major uplands but also are the only mountain chains between the Appalachians and the Rockies.

Aside from the wide valley of the Arkansas River, which separates the two chains, the Arkansas lowlands belong to two physiographic regions: the Mississippi Alluvial Plain and the Gulf Coastal Plain. The highest elevation in Arkansas, at 2,753 ft (840 m), is Magazine Mountain, standing north of the Ouachitas in the Arkansas River Valley. The state's lowest point, at 55 feet (17 meters), is on the Ouachita River in south-central Arkansas.

At LRAFB, the surface topography is generally gently rolling hills with a mix of deciduous and evergreen vegetation.

Architectural Compatibility Guidelines – June, 2006 Page 8 of 76

3.1 LANDSCAPE/SITE DESIGN

3.1.1 INTRODUCTION

Landscaping and site design should provide developed outdoor spaces to promote social interaction and foster a sense of community on the base. Existing features, such as trees, and views should be capitalized on whenever possible.

3.1.2 INSTALLATION BOUNDARIES

The appearance of installation boundaries can be enhanced by providing simple and low maintenance plantings. These plantings can also serve to limit sight lines into the facility, thus improving security.

3.1.3 CIRCULATION

While we consider the quality of a base’s facilities of utmost importance, the street system serves as a framework that can either complement or detract from that quality.

STREETS

Beyond providing a basic mode of circulation for vehicles, streets are an indirect basis of our perception of quality. Installation aesthetics are impacted by many of the elements that make up the vehicular circulation system. These indirect impacts may include pavement surfaces, traffic-related street equipment, street furniture, the actual roadway shapes and the focuses or views that street systems create.

Street Patterns Where an expanded roadway system is under consideration, the street pattern should attempt to respond to site conditions and create focal interest.

Street alignments that draw one’s eye to significant elements of the base help provide orientation and contextual hints as to one’s location within the base.

Where medians are used, these should be landscaped appropriately.

A properly laid out street system should support uncomplicated movement throughout the base. It can suggest the location of important buildings, entry gates, structures, monuments, etc. Landscape materials used along streets can also aid in advising

3 Architectural Design Guidelines

Views of streetscape

Views of streetscape

Views of streetscape

Architectural Compatibility Guidelines – June, 2006 Page 9 of 76 drivers when making logical progressions from one use area to another. There are numerous examples at LRAFB where street patterns have been successfully used in this manner, notably in the approach to Building 1250.

The main entrance to an installation should represent one of the most carefully crafted components of the base. Accommodating all anticipated traffic including delivery vehicles and pedestrians should be considered in terms of flow and staging. Thematic materials and architectural style can be established by the guardhouse, entry monument, fencing, and other entrance amenities. Overall, the roadway system, beginning with the gate entry, should establish a positive visual image of the installation and at LRAFB it does this very well.

Pavers/Other Materials Non-traditional paving materials, such as pavers, may be used at key intersections or adjacent to significant base facilities. These can help notify drivers or pedestrians of an area or location of significance. Use of such materials should be limited to locations of high importance (major intersections, Wing Command Headquarters, Heritage Park). Material selection should be consistent and limited to one material type and no more than two colors. The selected material must be installed in such a manner that it is able to withstand virtual neglect and constant vehicular abuse.

WALKS

Walkways define the pedestrian experience on a base.

They are an indicator of quality in the installation infrastructure and of the commitment to ease of circulation. While they are similar to streets in that way, placement and scale are very different and must be addressed in a manner that recognizes the pedestrian perspective.

Sidewalks Consideration should be given to the pattern of pedestrian traffic between buildings when planning sidewalk routes. Sidewalks should be sufficiently wide to comfortably allow two pedestrians to cross paths. Generally, a 6 to 8 foot wide sidewalk is preferred, but it should never be less than 4 feet wide along secondary streets. Primary sidewalks should be lighted for nighttime safety. Lighting in other areas is recommended.

Crosswalk at Laughlin AFB

Signage at entry

Special paving feature

Architectural Compatibility Guidelines – June, 2006 Page 10 of 76

Placement of sidewalks immediately adjacent to street curbs is discouraged. Instead, a “green zone” between the street and the sidewalk is encouraged where possible. Sidewalks need not be parallel to adjacent streets. Curvilinear sidewalks create visual interest and provide landscape pocket planting opportunities that enhance the pedestrian experience. LRAFB has paired its existing rolling terrain with this sidewalk concept to create a pleasant pedestrian experience in many areas. Future sidewalk development should build on the start already made.

Sidewalks should be located on both sides of a street, especially along main thoroughfares, to afford pedestrians the maximum circulation options and to minimize the need to cross a street to access a sidewalk. The number of curb cuts that occur where sidewalks are located should be kept to a minimum.

Sidewalk materials at major vehicular crossings should signal to drivers that a pedestrian zone is being crossed, and brick or concrete pavers, as previously suggested, are a good option.

Sidewalks should be a part of all new construction projects. Sidewalk configurations should preserve any significant existing landscape. Sidewalks leading to a building should increase in width as they approach a main entrance. Borders of brick or concrete pavers are appropriate at major building entrances and the red-brown color already in use is very appropriate.

Consideration should be given to economical alternatives to gray concrete walks including the addition of a small amount of red or brown pigment in the concrete mix.

Bicycle paths Bicycle transportation is an efficient alternative to traditional vehicular travel and should be given consideration as an integral part of the base circulation system. Bicycle paths can serve as a convenient and safe alternative mode of travel between base facilities that also promote exercise.

Curvilinear layouts are preferred over linear configurations. Pathways should be sufficiently wide to allow for two-way bicycle traffic to be easily accommodated. Where sidewalks double as bicycle paths, they should be made sufficiently wide to allow

Paving feature at Heritage Park

Architectural Compatibility Guidelines – June, 2006 Page 11 of 76 comfortable use of this facility for both activities and have a designated side for each. When expanding existing facilities, planners should consider building sections of what can become a complete loop of the entire campus.

PARKING

Access to Parking When approach aprons are used by heavy trucks, curb cuts leading into parking areas should use concrete aprons to minimize the maintenance associated with vehicular turns on asphalt. At other areas, concrete aprons are recommended if within the project budget.

Landscape clusters flanking these entrances are encouraged and should be installed at the appropriate setbacks to allow for adequate sightlines for driver.

The height of mature plant materials should be considered. Landscape clusters help to signal the entrance of parking areas and “soften” the increased pavement area associated with curb cuts. A triangular setback of a minimum of 40 feet from the curb must be kept clear of obstacles that can prohibit obstructing a driver’s line of site in either direction of an intersection.

Accessing parking areas from main thoroughfares, especially off of the entry roadway, is discouraged. To the extent possible, parking areas should be accessed from secondary roadways in order to minimize the impact on vehicular flow on main thoroughfares where speeds are higher.

Parking Locations The preferred locations for vehicular parking are across the street from a main building entrance or at the side or rear of the building. Buildings should never be viewed from the street across a parking lot.

Where parking in front of a building is required it should be limited to visitor spaces, located so as to not block the view of the building entrance. Vehicular drives within these parking areas should be oriented so that they are perpendicular to the building façade.

Designated handicap parking stalls should be located as close to the accessible entry as possible.

Force Protection Refer to the section on force protection for information regarding parking and building adjacencies.

Keep landscape away from roadway intersections

Architectural Compatibility Guidelines – June, 2006 Page 12 of 76

Screening/Planting Where dedicated parking across a street from a facility is possible, special care should be taken to set back the parking lot sufficiently to allow for landscape planting opportunities between the lot and the street. The intent of this standoff distance zone is for security, to screen or mask the parking lot from the street and to improve the pedestrian and vehicular views from the street or sidewalks.

This zone can be used to place sidewalks. A minimum of 20’ from the edge of the street curb to the edge of the parking lot curb should be set aside for this zone.

Berms with low level plantings and trees will completely screen the view of parked cars.

Trees must not be planted in utility easements. When easements are located in front of parking areas, an increased depth of the setback will be required to keep trees out of the easement area.

Parking lot medians should be planted with trees, located so that they do not come into contact with overhanging truck bumpers. A goal of shading 20 percent of the parking area with trees at the lot perimeter or medians is not unreasonable. Medians with trees should generally be the width of the tree’s mature canopy to minimize pavement damage from root growth. Verify the width requirements based upon selected species with the landscape architect.

Pedestrian Considerations Pedestrian walks that lead toward a building entrance should be located within the medians in large parking areas. Texture or material changes should be considered for delineating paths where pedestrians must cross traffic lanes as they traverse the parking lot.

Appropriate ramps at curb approaches to accommodate ADA requirements are to be provided.

3.1.4 OPEN SPACES

When planning future improvements to this important base element, key vistas, axial and spatial relationships and circulation should all be considered. Through art and the landscape, the plaza seeks to convey a sense of the base history and distinguished military accomplishments.

HERITAGE PLAZAS & CEREMONIAL SPACES

Screening at Maxwell AFB

Screening at Little Rock AFB

Heritage Park display

Architectural Compatibility Guidelines – June, 2006 Page 13 of 76

Smaller monuments, landmarks and artworks should be sited and scaled so that they are highly visible yet subordinate to the overall plan and concept of the Plaza. LRAFB has achieved a good balance between the design of the overall ceremonial space and smaller commemorative monuments. To maintain this quality, it is recommended that a review committee be established on base to assist the designers in the development of new monuments.

Where seating is to be integrated into the plaza design, it should take advantage of the principal view and be oriented for thermal comfort in both winter and summer. Where practical, the planting of trees is encouraged to provide shade and atmosphere. Heritage Plazas should highlight favorable views while screening those that are undesirable.

Berms can be used to define open spaces and emphasize desired views. They can protect the central ceremonial area in the winter while directing prevailing winds into the space in the summer. Berms can also help mitigate traffic noise that could be disruptive during ceremonial events.

RECREATION SPACES

Outdoor recreation offerings enhance quality of life by promoting healthful activities. Open recreational areas must be well conceived and maintained to be successful. Spaces such as parks, playgrounds, baseball fields or other sports fields, gardens, etc. all can serve as recreation sources. These are best located where they are convenient to all base residents and this suggests a somewhat central location. Space in this area should be set aside for future growth of recreational facilities.

SPACES BETWEEN BUILDINGS

Large turf areas near dormitories are encouraged to promote informal recreational activities.

PLAZAS/COURTYARDS/PATIOS

Plazas and courtyards should be an integral component of the overall base planning effort. When grouping buildings, the spaces between buildings should be as carefully designed as the buildings. Plazas and courtyards should be designed to encourage group gatherings and, in the Little Rock area, they can serve this purpose most months of the year. The courtyard

Monument in Heritage Park

Plaza paving

Architectural Compatibility Guidelines – June, 2006 Page 14 of 76 outside Building 864 is a good example of courtyard design, although without major trees for shade, and the open space partially defined by Buildings 1222, 1230 and 1231 has promise.

The design of plazas or courtyards should be relatively simple and flexible enough to accommodate a variety of events. Ideally, they can be terminus points for pedestrian walks or other approaches.

Landscape materials used in these spaces should be carefully selected. Trees of sufficient height and width at maturity should be used to ensure that shading of seating areas will be afforded during warmer weather.

Deciduous trees are recommended over evergreens since they allow sunlight and warmth to penetrate the area in the winter months.

Paving material selections should complement the surrounding facilities and take into consideration all drainage requirements implied. Paving patterns or borders in these areas are appropriate, but should be kept relatively simple in design. Divider strips of either brick or concrete pavers are encouraged, as they add interest at relatively little additional cost.

PLAY AREAS

Play areas are an important element of family housing areas, schools, child development and recreational facilities and too often these are placed where space is available, without proper planning. The Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) Handbook for Playground Safety, 1978 and later, provides valuable guidance in the planning of play areas, the design of play equipment and the selection of ground surfacing.

ADA guidelines address design to accommodate children with disabilities.

For active play, a good rule of thumb is 75 square feet per child. Space limitations will dictate how many children can safely use a play area at any one time and research has shown that accidents increase with overcrowding. The ages of children using the play equipment is particularly important when the range extends from toddlers through pre-teens. Where toddlers are anticipated, the best practice is to develop a separate area to address their needs in order to minimize injuries to these younger children.

Courtyard seating

Architectural Compatibility Guidelines – June, 2006 Page 15 of 76

The CPSC defines a use zone around each piece of play equipment, consisting of a fall zone and no-encroachment zone. The fall zone is the area around a piece of equipment where a child falling or jumping from the equipment could be expected to land and where impact-absorbing ground surfacing is required.

The no-encroachment zone provides an additional area where children using the equipment can be expected to move about.

Only play equipment that meets the safety requirements established by CPSC should be considered. Safety considerations include entrapment, crush and pinch points, protrusions and edges, multiple exits, guardrails and barriers. The most durable equipment is of steel with a high-performance coating.

Plastics have a shorter life expectancy; wood splinters and is subject to decay.

Selecting play equipment that looks like a rocket ship or castle has adult appeal, but non-thematic structures better support and stimulate dramatic play activities and are more adaptable for informal activity. While bright colors are appropriate there is no evidence that children respond best to primary colors.

The most important component of a play area in terms of reducing injuries is the selection of the ground surfacing material. CPSC establishes impact-absorbing criteria. Positive drainage of the ground surface is essential and play equipment footings must be recessed so that the surface material extends over them. Sand and gravel are undesirable because they do not absorb impact readily. Wood bark decays and, when dry, becomes an airborne irritant. Three types of surfacing material have proven successful.

• Fiber Mulch: This engineered wood product is installed with a depth of 12 inches over a geotextile fabric. The installation requires a network of porous drain lines below the fabric to carry away subsurface water. The mulch is easily worn away in areas of frequent impact and requires on-going maintenance to maintain a uniform depth.

• Poured-in-Place Rubber Matting: The rubber is poured over a thick bed of loose rubber fill placed over a concrete slab. A substantial edger is required to keep the loose material from migrating.

Architectural Compatibility Guidelines – June, 2006 Page 16 of 76

• Interlocking Rubber Tiles: The tiles, 3 or 4 inches thick, are installed over a concrete slab.

The tiles have short legs that raise them above the slab so that water drains through and is carried away.

3.1.5 PLANTING/LANDSCAPE

GENERAL

Landscape can be used to direct circulation, provide shade, screen or mask undesirable views, mitigate noise and wind, control erosion, contribute to energy conservation through shading and cooling, establish hierarchical order, emphasize or deemphasize building architecture, define space, improve air and water quality and serve as part of AT/FP design.

A landscape theme that takes into account Little Rock’s climatologic patterns, native plant materials, topographic characteristics and the base general plan will set a baseline for future landscape installations.

The success of LRAFB’s formal and informal pine tree clusters base-wide is a very strong landscape concept, providing visual screening between building groupings, and should be expanded.

Limiting landscape specimen installations to those listed on the approved plant list for the Little Rock region is important as it increases the chances for long-term survival of installed materials. The need for supplemental watering and maintenance is greatly reduced. At the design stage, an expectation for a plant specimen’s anticipated timeframe for achieving maturity needs to be realistic so that natural growth patterns are compatible with desired goals. Do not allow the planting of any invasive species of plants.

Screening Landscape materials are an effective method of screening undesirable views of things like storage yards, utility lines or sub-stations, mechanical equipment, electrical transformers, dumpsters, docks and others, when an architectural screening device is unwarranted. When selecting a plant to perform as a screening, be careful to select species that will remain dense close to the ground.

LRAFB, like other installations, incurs substantial cost for landscape maintenance and a lot of this goes toward pruning shrubbery. In selecting new and

Clusters and columns of Pine trees

Plantings requiring higher maintenance

Architectural Compatibility Guidelines – June, 2006 Page 17 of 76 replacement shrubs, look for species whose growth habit and mature size minimize, or better yet eliminate, the need for pruning. These appear more natural than the pseudo-geometric shapes of pruned shrubs. Though this is presently not the norm at LRAFB, the cost savings will be substantial.

Planting beds of shrubs and flowering plants should be minimized, used only at the main gate, in the Heritage Park and adjacent to principal building entrances.

Elsewhere, the emphasis should be on trees, not shrubs. To reduce weed intrusion, planting beds should be lined with a mesh fabric and heavily mulched, both at planting and as part of on-going maintenance.

Masking Landscape used to mask views is different from full screening in that the intent is to soften rather than to completely block a view. Applications for masking could be to break up long expanses of fencing or along force protection cable barriers. The intent is to soften the hard lines and to improve visual appeal.

Noise Control Strategic planting of landscape materials can be a good approach for controlling noise and are especially effective when paired with masonry fences or berms.

This application can be particularly useful where buildings or other public spaces are located adjacent to a busy roadway. The most effective installations for noise control will include plant materials with very dense foliage, planted to create a continuous screen and be of sufficient height to moderate noise. It is important to note that plant materials of all heights have the ability to absorb reflected sound. Evergreen plants are preferred when installed for this purpose since their foliage is beneficial for mitigating noise throughout the year.

Shade Providing shade is one of the many benefits of landscape plantings. During the summer, they help to reduce the ambient temperature by a substantial amount to provide comfort and encourage use of outdoor spaces. In the winter, deciduous trees allow light and warmth to penetrate their canopy. The use of deciduous trees around buildings helps to shield them from the full effect of the summer sun while allowing its warmth to penetrate in the winter.

New planting at Wing Command

Architectural Compatibility Guidelines – June, 2006 Page 18 of 76

Approximately 75 percent of all heat gain in a building is through windows. The proper use of deciduous shade trees can dramatically reduce the cost of cooling in the summer and heating in the winter by strategically placing them to shield windows. Tree planting also reduces the amount of turf area which requires significantly more water to maintain.

Shade from trees also improves the ambience of patios and courtyards by extending their usability into summer. They also help to lessen the heat island effect of roadways or parking lots when placed in medians. Tree planting can also increase the life of pavement. When planting shade trees on circulation corridors, adequate clearance between the tree and other structures as well as beneath the tree where traffic occurs is critical. The specific growth patterns of a selected species needs to be thoroughly understood in order to avoid future problems.

Definition of Functional Areas The massing of landscape beds and the logical sequencing of landscape patterns can frame views, buffer pedestrians from vehicular traffic and provide separation of distinct activities.

If the intent is to create an atmosphere of order, regular spacing of trees and shrubs is most appropriate.

Formal repetition and contrast to reinforce edges and borders represents the most appropriate application for a sense of coherency. When a formal setting is desired, trees with upright trunk patterns are most appropriate.

Their vertical canopy clearance should be a minimum of seven feet to allow views underneath.

Irregular spacing of landscape materials must be carefully implemented so that there is a sense of overall composition and balance in the final configuration. Informal settings are most appropriate in areas where a diversity of unplanned activities may occur.

Glare Trees, shrubs and other vegetation can effectively reduce glare and reflection when placed between the light source and the observer. This is especially true where reflections from paved areas are being bounced into windows or where sunlight is directly penetrating a window.

Examples of attractive landscaping

Architectural Compatibility Guidelines – June, 2006 Page 19 of 76

Pollution Control The most significant way for landscape to control water pollution is to control erosion. Landscaping can play a very important part in this goal by holding soil in place and thus reducing the amount of “runoff” during rain events that would otherwise find its way to fresh water sources. Whether runoff events are rapid and dramatic or slow and imperceptible, the materials that storm water comes into contact with are potential sources of pollution. Trees can play a very significant role in pollution prevention and storm water control.

On steeply sloped terrain where erosion threats are the greatest, planting vigorous ground cover will stabilize the area and mitigate runoff. Planting grass in these areas is discouraged as it proves difficult and even dangerous to maintain. The use of mulch materials also helps stabilize soil. Because of the quantity and availability of fallen pine tree needles that exist in the Little Rock area, their use as an organic mulch material in planting beds is highly encouraged. This application is highly beneficial to the soil and also helps control weeds that tend to infiltrate planting beds.

In areas that are mowed, leaving the clippings on the lawn is encouraged. These add nutrients to the soil that in turn reduce the need for fertilization. Clippings also add organic matter to the soil which reduces the amount of runoff.

Where installing plant materials to control erosion is difficult if not impossible, the use of rip-rap should be considered.

Landscape & Architecture Landscape materials can be used to emphasize a building’s entry or to mask or screen building walls that lack detail or otherwise detract from the entry.

Formal planting patterns add to the drama created when approaching an important installation facility or important base landmark. This is particularly effective when the landscape helps to frame the entrance of prominent facilities. The use of shade trees along walks and drives, paired with low level ground covers, help to lower the thermal load on adjacent facilities.

In addition to emphasizing the entry, installing plant materials along the foundation of a facility adds to the

Landscaping at Maxwell AFB

VQ at Little Rock AFB

Architectural Compatibility Guidelines – June, 2006 Page 20 of 76 visual interest of the building by softening hard edges and adding depth to the building façade.

WALLS AND FENCES

Retaining Walls The primary function of retaining walls is to stabilize soil where elevation changes are severe and where controlling erosion is necessary. They are of most benefit where extensive grading of soil is not possible due to limited area requirements or where excessive grading would be detrimental to the surrounding landscape or roadway system. Where these conditions exist, retaining walls are recommended over extensive grading.

A maximum vertical height of 3 feet for individual retaining walls is preferred over taller solutions if the specific condition allows. The retaining wall installation at Building 1250 is a good example of this.

Terracing of battered retaining walls not only creates visual interest and potential seating areas, it also enhances soil stability and keeps individual retaining walls at a manageable scale to facilitate landscape maintenance. They can also be used effectively as a component of force protection.

Using the appropriate masonry material is important.

At LRAFB, a concrete masonry unit with a textured face of a color that complements the vernacular reddish-brown brick would be appropriate. The retaining wall at Building 952 is a good example.

The use of landscape materials in and around retaining walls is encouraged to soften a wall’s rigid appearance and to ensure that the installation fits naturally within the character of its surroundings. Landscape selections should be made from an approved landscape materials list for the Little Rock area. Modified drainage patterns created when using retaining walls should be considered during the planning stage.

Landscape Walls Landscape walls are freestanding walls used to screen or mask undesirable views. Their material, texture and color applications should follow the suggestions provided in the retaining wall section. The brick wall with cast stone cap used at the courtyard dining area at Building 854 is a good example. A wall cap of a

Retaining wall at Building 1250

Concrete masonry retaining wall at Building 952

Landscape wall separates parking and courtyard areas

Architectural Compatibility Guidelines – June, 2006 Page 21 of 76 material other than brick is important, as brick caps tend to foster efflorescence from the wall below.

Equipment Screens Dumpsters and major pieces of mechanical equipment should be completely screened from view. The base preference for three-sided brick enclosures with gates of tubular steel represents a major commitment to the elimination of visual clutter. Wall caps should not be of brick and sheet steel should be considered as a backing to the steel gate frames to provide total visual screening.

In some cases, metal-clad enclosures will still be permissible. These enclosures should fully conceal the contents from view and be painted or anodized a dark bronze color.

Size dumpster enclosures to accommodate the largest dumpster in use or contemplated for use.

Mechanical equipment screens are best designed as somewhat taller than the tallest piece of equipment to be screened. Mechanical equipment has a finite lifespan and there is every likelihood that replacement pieces will be taller than the original.

Equipment like electrical transformers, that are typically ground-mounted and simple volumetric forms are best left unscreened. LRAFB uses a dark brown-gray paint for these and when, so treated, they visually recede into the landscape. Use Sherwin Williams “SW Satin Bronzetone” paint for all electrical transformers and equipment.

Designers should determine if recycling containers will be required on site and provide enclosures if necessary.

Fences Chain link fences are strongly discouraged and wood or metal slats in chain link fencing is not allowed.

Where they are essential for security, vinyl clad chain link material and posts should be used, in a dark green or black color. Powder coated finishes are also allowable. This should be supplemented with landscape screening wherever possible.

Screening should hide equipment from view

Security fencing at Maxwell AFB

Effective screening

Simple volumetric equipment acceptable unscreened

Architectural Compatibility Guidelines – June, 2006 Page 22 of 76

The preferred design for security fencing is steel or aluminum picket fencing in a dark color, six feet or taller as required for security, with brick piers at 12 to 16 feet on center. The brick piers should be a minimum of 16 inches square and have cast stone caps. An alternative to brick piers is circular concrete piers, with a rubbed finish and a cast stone or precast concrete cap.

PLANT LIST

Botanical Name Common Name/Variety

NATIVE TREES

Acer rubrum Red Maple

Acer saccharum Southern Sugar Maple/ floridanum

Amelanchier arborea Serviceberry Betula nigra River Birch/ single item Carpinus caroliniana American Hornbeam Cercis canadensis Eastern Redbud Chionanthus virginicus White Fringetree Cornus florida Flowering Dogwood/ site specific Crataegus phaenopyrum Washington Hawthorne Fraxinus pennsylvanica Green Ash Gleditsia triacanthos Moxraine Locust/ inermis moraine Gleditsia triacanthos inermis Thornless Honeylocust Ilex x attenuata Fosteri* Foster Hybrid Holly Ilex opaca* American Holly Juniperus virginiana Eastern Red Cedar/ canaerti Liquidambar styraciflua Sweetgum/ rotundiloba Liriodendron tulipifera L Tulip Poplar Magnolia grandiflora Southern Magnolia Magnolia soulangeana Saucer Magnolia/ white Malus angustifolia (Ait.) Michx Southern Crabapple Nyssa sylvatica Black Gum Ostrya virginia Hophornbeam Pinus taeda Loblolly Pine Pinus echinata Shortleaf Pine Platanus acerifolia London Plane Tree Platanus occidentalis American Sycamore Quercus alba White Oak Quercus falcata Cherrybark Oak/ pagodaefolita Quercus niqra Water Oak

Architectural Compatibility Guidelines – June, 2006 Page 23 of 76

PLANT LIST - CONTINUED

Botanical Name Common

Name/Variety NATIVE TREES (continued) Quercus palustris Pin Oak

Quercus Phellos Willow Oak Quercus rubra maxima Northern Red Oak Quercus shumardii Shumard's Oak Sassafras albidum Sassafras Taxodium distichum Common Baldcypress Tilia cordata Littleleaf Linden

SHRUBS

Ceanothus americanus Mountain snowball

Corylus americana American hazelnut Diervilla sessililfolia Bush honeysuckle Hypericum prolificum Saint-John’s-wort Hydrangea quercifolia Oak-leaved Hydrangea Ilex vomitoria Yaupon Holly Kalmia latifolia Mountain laurel Mahonia aquifolium Oregon Holly-grape Myrica cerifera Wax Myrtle/ dwarf varieties-species Rosa carolina Carolina rose Viburnum rafinesquianum Downy arrowwood

EXOTIC SHRUBS

Acer ginnala Amur Maple

Acer palmatum Japanese Maple Berberis thunbergi Japanese Barberry/ standard and minor Chaenomeles Lagenaria Flowering Quince/ scarlet Elaeagnus pungens Thorny Elaeagnus Forsythia intermedia Border Forsythia/ spectabilia Forsythia suspensa sieboldi Siebold Forsythia Juniperus chinensis pfitzeriana Pfitzer's Juniper Juniperus sabina Savin Juniper Lagerstroemia indica Crape-myrtle/ cold hardy varieties Photinia glabra Smooth Photinia

Ginkgo biloba Maidenhair Tree

EXOTIC TREES:

Ulmus parvifolia** Lacebark Elm Koelreuteria paniculata Goldenrain-Tree Prunus serrulata Japanese Cherry Pyracantha coccinea Laland Firethorn/lalandi

Architectural Compatibility Guidelines – June, 2006 Page 24 of 76

PLANT LIST - CONTINUED

Botanical Name Common

Name/Variety EXOTIC TREES (continued) Pyrus calleryana Bradford Pear

Rosa virginiana Virginia Rose Taxus baccata Irish Yew/stricta Taxus cuspidata Japanese Yew/ densa, expansa or nana Thuja orientalis Oriental Arbor-vitae/ globosa and stricta Viburnum rufidulum Southern Black Haw Vitex agnus-castus Lilac Chaste-tree Yucca filamentosa Adams Needle

* Do not use in housing areas **(DO NOT accept Siberian Elm-Ulmus pumila)

3.1.6 XERISCAPING

GENERAL

The word “xeriscape” is derived from the Greek word “xeros”, meaning dry. Xeriscape philosophy embodies landscape principles that apply to any region or climate and challenges landscape designers and those responsible for maintenance to create landscapes that achieve a sense of region in the selection and placement of plant materials while minimizing the use of water.

For Air Force installations, adherence to the principles of xeriscaping reduces water consumption and lowers maintenance costs. Water use for a traditional landscape can be as much as 40 percent of total water use and, though irrigation cannot be eliminated, it can be greatly reduced with the appropriate design techniques and maintenance practices. An attractive appearance need not be sacrificed, as a properly-designed xeriscape can incorporate abundant planting and take on, if desired, even a lush appearance.

Water Budgeting In landscape design, water use zones can be created by concentrating plants with similar water-use requirements. This simplifies both irrigation design and maintenance. There are three typical zones.

Mulch in new planting beds

Architectural Compatibility Guidelines – June, 2006 Page 25 of 76

Inner Zone This zone is the smallest, concentrated in areas that are highly visible, like principal building entrances, heritage parks, main gates and functional outdoor spaces like courtyards and patios. The densest planting is reserved for this zone and, even in a climate like Little Rock with relatively plentiful rainfall, supplemental irrigation will likely be required.

Intermediate Zone This transitional zone includes other areas immediately adjacent to buildings, park areas, medians in divided streets and parking lots and strips bordering major streets. In Little Rock a broad variety of plant materials are available for use in this zone that will require no supplemental water, though some may be desired in limited areas. This can be minimized at streets and parking areas by diverting some runoff from paved areas and around buildings by distributing runoff from roof drains.

Outer Zone The outer zone is everything else. LRAFB is exemplary in the manner in which it has treated these areas, with swaths of pine and other trees, together with natural understory growth requiring no supplemental water and almost no maintenance.

Turf Areas Turf has the highest water and maintenance requirements of all plantings. The size and location of turf areas should be carefully considered in the inner and intermediate zones. At the inner zone, there will reasonably be some turf areas that suggest a green appearance throughout the growing season, regardless of rainfall, requiring irrigation. These should be minimized. Turf areas in the other zones at LRAFB are typically, and appropriately, Bermuda grass that brown out in dry periods. In the intermediate zone, efforts should be considered to divert some runoff to turf areas to keep them green.

Soil Improvement Most native and adapted plants in any region do well without soil improvements, but the addition of organic matter to any soil is beneficial. Plants grow better and use water more effectively if organic matter is added.

Further, rainfall will be more readily absorbed by the soil, reducing runoff, erosion and the frequency of supplemental irrigation. Organic matter should be

Architectural Compatibility Guidelines – June, 2006 Page 26 of 76 added to the soil in all new plantings in the inner zone and, as feasible, in the intermediate zone as well.

Irrigation Different soils absorb water at different rates. Slow irrigation allows proper soil moisture to be maintained in the root zone, providing the best growing conditions, while deep watering promotes deeper roots, reducing irrigation requirements. In all but the very hottest weather, one deep soaking a week should suffice. Drip irrigation should be considered for planting beds as there is no loss to evaporation.

Rainwater Harvesting For new construction projects, rainwater collection tanks should be considered. While the initial cost is significant, the long-term benefits are very substantial.

The benefits of brief and intense rain can be extended by designing the grading around buildings to direct some runoff from roofs and paved areas onto landscaped areas, encouraging limited ponding in planting…