Attach 6 - Appendix 2 Standards - 30 Oct 10.doc

FA4690-10-R-K102

Appendix 2, Attachment 6

APPENDIX 2 – 30 Oct 10 ACC Design Standards

1. Base Design Policytc "1. Base Design Policy" tc ""

The special character of defense installations dictates compatibility over personal style. The limited size and function of Air Combat Command (ACC) bases cannot accept the diverse opinions of the many design professionals without becoming cluttered and unsettled. In this context, “good design” is defined as design that contributes to the overall harmony of the base rather than design that attracts individual attention. Good examples of where ACC goals should lead are college campuses and corporate office parks. Because we do not want monotony, every building does not have to be the same, but some repetitive common architectural element or theme should tie all buildings together. Responsible design will achieve this goal.

Use a simple approach to locate facilities. Facilities having similar function should be located in the same vicinity on uncongested sites, but do not permit parking to dominate. Use indigenous, low maintenance materials. Relate building forms to each other and use low maintenance landscape material. Do not paint new buildings. Use materials that do not require painting during their life cycle. Use neutral colors such as beige and brown.

The Architectural Policy has a set of goals that guide the development of the policy.

Site Conditions: Provide site conditions and building forms appropriate to any new, future or existing buildings.

Low Maintenance: Use permanent low maintenance exteriors that are compatible with ACC bases and their natural and man-made environments.

Environmental: Design facilities in ways to enhance environmental quality and minimize consumption of natural resources.

Layouts: Provide functional layouts that completely satisfy users needs.

Costs: Reduce life cycle costs.

Labor: Reduce labor intensive maintenance procedures.

Approval: Obtain user approval of design concept layout prior to predesign conferences in order to prevent costly changes during final design, contracting and construction. This is normally done through a Customer Concept Document prior to preparation of programming documents.

2. Site Design Policytc "2. Site Design Policy" tc ""

Site selection and design are important to achieve compatibility with the Base Comprehensive Plan (BCP). The following guidelines for site location, site size, parking and landscaping will help contribute to this compatibility.

2a. Location tc "2a. Location " tc ""

Situate new buildings within compatible functional groups as determined by base master plan.

Congestion: Do not create congestion. Functional separation is better than congesting a functional neighborhood.

Complexes: Site buildings supporting a common function such as civil engineering complexes in order to share a common infrastructure of roads, parking, utilities and security. These tight clusters should read as one idea with similar details and materials that link them aesthetically as well as functionally. Provide enough space around a complex for expansion. Assume 10% expansion whenever other supporting data is not available.

Traffic: When existing traffic patterns are changed by new construction proposals, provide adequate traffic alternatives to coincide with the construction of the new project. Locate buildings so that you can walk between buildings in a functional group. Only encourage driving when walking cannot be accommodated.

2b. Site tc "2b. Site " tc ""

Avoid small sites that cause problems for neighboring buildings and unnecessarily increase costs.

Site Influence: Do not use sites that force building functions into basements, third floors or uneconomical shapes as curves, diagonals or long rectangles.

Open area: Use sites that permit open landscape space around buildings to separate the building from required pavement. Prevent an overcrowded appearance.

Existing site contours: After positive drainage away from buildings is developed, use existing or natural grades and contours to avoid excessive cut and fill operations.

Setbacks: Sites need to allow minimum setbacks from other structures such as buildings, roads, and parking. Minimum setbacks are 25' for the front and rear, and 10' for the side.

2c. Parking tc "2c. Parking " tc ""

Use size, location and screening to prevent parking from becoming a dominate feature. Do not locate parking directly in front of a building or entrance. Do not locate parking between the main viewing street and the building.

Buildings: Locate parking behind buildings; when a building is located between a street and a parking lot the building appearance is improved and the parking is screened with minimum cost. Consider building shape and relationship to other buildings to provide as much screening as possible. Ensure the principle or main view of the building presents a pleasing and uncluttered appearance. Parking arrangement is a major factor in providing an orderly appearance.

Size: Use separate smaller parking lots of 50 cars or less rather than one large lot of 200.

Reduce apparent size: Where large parking lots exist or are required by functional layout, landscape approximately 10% of the area within the lot.

Walking distance: Design parking lots to limit walking distance. Use a maximum of 200 feet for most buildings, for transient and bachelor housing limit luggage carrying and walking distance to 100 feet.

Curbs: Provide curbs around parking, access roads and streets.

Drainage: Design paved areas to minimize drainage into natural water courses.

3. Architectural Design Policytc "3. Architectural Design Policy" tc ""

Exterior treatment requires careful management to achieve the desired overall compatibility. Each base has to define a context and direction based on existing built and natural environment. Use of the following guidelines will achieve the desired ACC standard.

3a. Form tc "3a. Form " tc ""

Use simple plans and building forms as well as conventional sloping roofs. Eave heights may vary as required by interior functional relationships, but do not use more than one pitch angle on a building. Do not combine two kinds of roof such as flat and sloping roofs on the same building unless it is clearly justified by the influence of adjacent architecture, building function or layout. Minimize corners, offsets and curves on horizontal and vertical surfaces. Use only as clearly justified by the adjacent architecture, building function or layout.

New Versus Old: Imitate and improve on existing base building forms to provide harmony between new and old; the new emphasis on sloping roofs makes this more difficult than in the past. When new sloping roofed buildings are sited among existing flat profiled building, steps must be taken to develop some secondary flat forms to relate the new to the old.

Height: Except for dormitories, which are limited to three stories, limit buildings to two stories above ground. Do not use basements.

Mechanical: Do not let mechanical systems become form-givers. Locate mechanical units to the rear or side of buildings. Design these features to blend in and to integrate with the building architecture in such a way that they are not prominent or detectable. Match materials for mechanical enclosures to the building they serve, i.e., masonry with masonry. Use roof mounted equipment only when absolutely necessary. If required, match the equipment enclosure to the roof or wall material, as much as possible. Equipment wells are also acceptable. As a minimum, screen any equipment at ground level with landscape. When screening mechanical equipment, ensure adequate clearance as recommended by the equipment manufacturer is provided to allow for proper air circulation.

3b. Walls tc "3b. Walls " tc ""

Minimize use of curves, cants or angles other than 90 degree corners. Use only as clearly justified by the adjacent architecture, building function or layout.

Material: Use low maintenance durable materials that are integrally colored and textured such as brick, split-face concrete masonry units (CMU), split ribbed CMU, prominently exposed aggregate on precast concrete or other substrates, and integrally colored concrete that is textured by use of form liners. Brushed, honed or sandblasted concrete is not acceptable.

Use of bricks, blocks or grout containing fly ash or other by-products is preferred. Use concrete containing fly ash or other recycled materials. Autoclaved cellular cement should be used where appropriate.

Doors and Windows: Use energy-efficient doors, windows, and door/window frames. Consider if doors or windows from previous facility modifications can be reused/recycled. Use of doors, windows and door/window framing containing recycled materials is preferred.

Painting: Do not paint new buildings and do not use materials that are typically restored by painting such as stucco, metal fascia and various kinds of siding. Secondary doors may be painted as described in the next paragraph. On metal buildings, select a factory prefinished material.

Anodized Aluminum: Color anodized aluminum in neutral colors (suggest dark to light bronze) is recommended for exterior metals normally associated with walls such as fascia, gutters, downspouts, windows, and building entrances. Fire exit doors and other secondary doors and frames may be painted for economy. When painting secondary doors and fire exits, they may be painted to match the primary color anodized entrances or painted to match adjacent walls; this is a designer option. The objective is to produce a simple appearance which is uncluttered by many colored shapes.

3c. Roofs tc "3c. Roofs " tc ""

Use sloped roofs greater than 3:12 on ACC buildings with corresponding roof coverings such as factory finished standing seam metal or shingle roofs. These low maintenance alternatives are required because of the poor maintenance history of flat multi-ply built-up roofs. Generally use a symmetrical double slope roof type. For improved maintenance, do not combine a multi-ply flat roof with exposed metal, shingles, etc. Make all of the building parts compatible with each other. Roofing made from recycled materials is preferred.

Alternatives: Do not use low slope roofing if 3:12 or steeper pitch is feasible. Lower slopes and other materials may occasionally be required by building form and size (extremely large buildings such as supply facilities or commissaries). Slopes as low as 1:12 are generally accepted for metal roofs (consult with manufacturers for particulars). When a multi-ply built-up roof is used, slope the roof at ¼:12 minimum. The slope is to be accomplished with structural members for new built up roofs, not by tapering the insulation.

Drainage: Provide continuous roof slope to the perimeter of the building. Do not design interior valleys or depressions that will form ponds if a roof drain becomes obstructed. Ensure overflow scuppers are provided in accordance with applicable codes for parapets.

Skylights and Clerestories: These features may be used where strong functional and economic justification dictates; fully document economic justification and submit with proposed design to include life cycle cost of special ballast and control devices. Be sure to consider heat load and occupant comfort as part of the proposed design. General area lighting for warehouses is not considered strong enough functional justification to compensate for the generally high maintenance associated with large numbers of skylights on a flat roof.

Metal fascia: Do not use wide metal fascias with flat roofed buildings. If a band is desired around the top of a building, provide it with masonry detailing such as projections, soldier courses, or stack bonds. Masonry detailing provides a more durable maintenance free fascia that does not require painting.

3d. Additionstc "3d. Additions" tc ""

When building additions are proposed, careful coordination is required to determine if the addition should match the old building or if the old building should be changed and brought up to ACC standards at the same time as the addition.

Small Addition: When less than 25% of the existing building’s floor area, design additions to match the original construction.

Large Additions: When additions exceed 25% of the original building area, the addition and the original construction are required to comply with ACC standards. For example, a flat roofed building of 10,000 square feet needs an addition of 3,000 square feet. In this example 3,000 is more than 25%. The addition would have a sloped roof, and the original building would be renovated to have a sloped roof. If the original building were plain CMU, then a new exterior wall finish of textured CMU would be considered either in the form of a complete veneer or as a minimum, use textured CMU at important visual points such as entrances, planters, sign, corner protection, etc.

Compatibility: In either case (large or small), when additions are complete, they should be architecturally compatible rather than obvious add-ons.

3e. Metal Buildingstc "3e. Metal Buildings" tc "" Location: Use metal buildings where they are compatible with adjacent structures. Do not use metal buildings in highly visible locations unless they are surrounded by other metal buildings. Metal buildings not used in highly visible locations should be well screened with walls or vegetation. When designing a new metal building, consider using a textured, integrally colored masonry base for durability.

Finish: Use factory applied finishes with more than 15-year warranties.

Submit site justification: At the programming stage, submit siting criteria. Indicate adjacent building construction. If the building is isolated, describe how visible it is from major, minor, or service roads. State reason for selection of metal over masonry in addition to cost consideration.

Protective masonry: Provide protection on the exterior of buildings where impact to metal panels is probable. For example, integrally colored and textured masonry should be used at entrances, at corners, exterior wainscot to four feet high where vehicles are parked next to buildings, around forklift operations, and at loading docks.

3f. Colorstc "3f. Colors" tc " "

Use neutral anodized colors such as brown tone or gray tone neutral. Judgment has to be exercised in selection of colors for isolated miscellaneous features such as exit doors, downspouts, etc. In some cases, a building benefits from having isolated features painted to match adjacent light colored walls. This is very important on older buildings with many windows and doors. Painting trim a contrasting color can produce a cluttered appearance.

Wall Materials: Select neutral colors such as beige and brown.

Exterior metals: Use neutral anodized colors such as bronze. When aluminum, hollow metal, and wood are mixed on one building, hollow metal and wood may be painted to match the bronze aluminum color or adjacent walls. In any case, do not use a third color that does not match the bronze metals. Use one trim color to the greatest extend possible.

New Work: Do not paint new masonry.

Color Use: Usually two colors on a building produce the best appearance - one wall color and one trim color. Do not use more than three colors - one wall color, one metal color and one accent color such as exposed aggregate fascia, columns, beams, etc.

3g. Utility and Dumpster Enclosures tc "3g. Utility and Dumpster Enclosures " tc ""

Provide an enclosed yard to conceal miscellaneous support items such as generators, transformers, trash, lawn equipment, flammable storage, HVAC, meters, and aboveground tanks.

Enclosures: Match enclosing walls to the building wall material. When this is not possible, metal slats and planting may be used. In some cases, plant material by itself may be used to conceal the service area, but it must functionally conceal at the time of planting. All enclosures need to be at least six feet tall. If the items being concealed are taller than six feet then the enclosure should be as tall as the tallest item in the enclosures.

Gates: Provide gates for trash enclosures.

Subdivide: Organize and layout the service yard by responsibility. For instance, HVAC equipment should not be in the trash enclosure. Many of the functions may require separation and separate access such as tools, lawn mowers, fuel, etc.

Pavement: Provide vehicular access and surfacing such as pavement or gravel to reduce maintenance. Use concrete curbs or edging.

4. Interior Design Policytc "4. Interior Design Policy" tc ""

Air Combat Command standards differentiate based on whether a finish will be permanent or non-permanent. The differentiation is necessary due to the color palette changes each year. Generally permanent finishes last longer and consequently need to be a color that will not become dated after a few years. Non-permanent finishes do not last as long and can be updated to the new colors as they change.

4a. Permanent Finishestc "4a. Permanent Finishes" tc ""

Command Standards require that all permanent finishes be in either brown-tone or gray-tone neutrals. These neutral shades can be from very light (such as off-white relating to the particular color tone) to a mid-range neutral of this same shade.

Special Note: Neutrals can be tricky! It is important to choose true neutrals. A true neutral is one that can work in combination with almost any other color in the spectrum. A brown-tone neutral with a pink or yellow base will not work this way nor will a gray-tone neutral with a blue or green base.

4b. Non-Permanent Finishestc "4b. Non-Permanent Finishes" tc ""

Command Standards allow non-permanent finishes to be any coloration appropriate to the facility. Most often these finishes will be in mid-range colorations. Very seldom would there be a use for pastel or very bright colors in our facilities. However, primary colors of red, yellow, blue and green may be used in youth centers, child care centers or bowling centers!

While non-permanent finishes are allowed in various colors, it is highly recommended that in office and other work areas, the vinyl wall covering or painted wall surfaces also be kept in a neutral coloration. Light reflective surfaces are important to a productive work environment. Dark colors absorb light. In other words, for work areas, develop a neutral shell for the interior space with only the carpet, upholstery, and artwork providing the color accent. This is the way most large corporations develop their interior plans. Remember, all the people who occupy these spaces bring color into them each day.

4c. Finishes and Treatmentstc "4c. Finishes and Treatments" tc "" Vinyl wall covering: Should be Type II in most applications. Type I has very limited use in most of our facilities. A vertical texture will help hide seaming.

Paint: Use a low sheen enamel for all painted surfaces. Flat paint is impossible to maintain in our facilities.

Laminates: Laminate surfaces are much more maintainable if the laminate has a flecked, speckled, mottled, texture or granite-look. Soiling and water spotting is not nearly so visible on these surfaces.

Ceilings: In almost all facilities, ceilings (whether painted or ceiling tile), are to be off-white to coordinate with the color tone of the walls. Textured ceiling tiles in two foot squares with a regular edge are recommended.

Wainscot and Chair Rail: Wainscot is not recommended in most areas. Dark paneling wainscot has the effect of visually reducing the size of small office spaces. In long hallways wood panel wainscot has a railroading effect. A Type II heavy duty vinyl wallcovering will have a better effect. If paneling is required, cover one accent wall floor to ceiling. The purpose of chair rail is to protect wall surfaces from being marred by chair backs. Therefore, the chair back height must be considered to properly located the chair rail. It may be stained or painted to coordinate with the other woodwork or doors. Wainscot and chair rail should be no more than 36" high in rooms and no more that 42" high in corridors. Heavy vinyl bumper guards may also be used to protect walls in corridors where needed. They, too, should be in coordinating neutrals.

Vinyl/Rubber Base and Carpet Base: Use vinyl/rubber base in areas where the floor surface is vinyl composition tile (VCT) or rubber tile. Base is to be in a coordinating neutral to the floor surface, as near the same shade as possible. Do not use a dark color or accent color for the base. Use a four inch carpet base capped with a dark neutral vinyl/rubber carpet cap in carpeted areas. Use the same carpet for the base as meets the wall in the case of borders. When carpet tile is used it will be necessary to use a vinyl/rubber base. Choose a neutral that will most closely relate to the carpet coloration or wall coloration. With carpet tile, a straight base must be used (one without a cove foot) and installed first with the carpet tile butted up to it. In ceramic tile areas, if a base is used it will be a coordinating ceramic tile base.

Ceramic Tile: Use a mottled, flecked or specked floor tile, if at all possible. Also, be sure to use a dark tone grout which coordinates with the floor tile to avoid a stained or soiled appearance. Tile banding accents or patterns are approved for walls and floors provided the accent is another neutral shade which coordinates with the dominant tile color.

Doors and Door Frames: Depending on the quality of the doors, they may be either stained or painted. If painted, they may be painted either a color close to the wall color or an accent color of mid-range hue. Hollow metal door frames are best painted a color close to the wall color or only a shade or two darker.

Window Blinds: Metal or vinyl blinds may be horizontal or vertical and are best in off-white or light neutrals. Dust is not as visible on the light colors as on the dark colors, and vertical blinds collect less dust than horizontal ones. Dark blinds that match the anodized finish of the window frames are acceptable, provided the windows are of reflective glass. If the windows are not of reflective glass, dark blinds will radiate a great deal of heat into the building rather than reflecting it as light or off-white blinds do.

Carpet: (See ETL 94-3: Air Force Carpet Standard and revised ACC Carpet Guidance - dated 12 Oct 1993). In general, use mainly bold tweed, nylon, level-loop carpet of a least 28 oz. face weight. Bold tweed means yarns of several different colors, not various shades of the same color. Level-loop is the most hard-wearing type of carpet, and bold tweed allows for several upholstery color coordinations in a facility using only one carpet color-way. Again, use a 4" carpet base capped with a vinyl/rubber, dark neutral carpet cap.

Dormitory Carpet: Carpet dormitories by using one carpet pattern per building with a different color-way per floor. Take care to ensure that carpet used in living areas is not the same carpet used in the work areas on base. Do not use drab, dull colors in living areas. Bedspreads and chair upholstery can be coordinated per floor to the carpet color-way. Draperies in these small living areas are best kept in neutral colorations to blend in with the walls. This provides a neutral background for personal items of the occupants.

Carpet Borders: Carpet borders may be solid in color. They may be used with either carpet tile or roll goods. Be careful not to over-do borders. In corridors, a border width of 9" is about right. Install field carpet in rectangular shapes and allow border to fill in indentation such as doorways, drinking fountains, etc. Do not use borders in rooms where the furniture will cover the border.

Systems/Prewired Workstations/Modular Furniture: All panel fabrics, work surfaces, flipper doors, etc., are to be in either brown-tone or gray-tone neutrals. Only one type of systems furniture should be used per building in order to allow greater flexibility in reconfiguration as occupants, needs and requirements change and to provide continuity throughout the space. Systems furniture should be installed over carpet tiles. Removal and installation of new carpet in 12 foot widths becomes a major undertaking. A professional team must be hired to dismantle, store, then re-install the systems furniture. This is not efficient or cost effective. Carpet tile will allow for self-help replacement and ease of maneuvering under the systems furniture. Carpet tile will also accommodate flat-wiring for electrical and communications under the carpet.

5. Landscape Design Policytc "5. Landscape Design Policy" tc ""

All landscape planting should comply with the base land management plan. Develop functional rather than purely visual landscapes and preplan to reduce maintenance. Provide a landscaped space uncluttered by vehicles in front, at the entrance, and between the main viewing street and the building.

Mowing strips: Provide planting beds with wide mowing strips such as 4-inch thick by 12-inch wide concrete; mowing strips should eliminate hand trimming and edging caused by turf creeping into bedding plants.

Plant Material: Use indigenous, low maintenance, adapted trees and shrubs locally recommended for urban or street use that can survive without irrigation after the first season (one year) warranty maintenance period. Do not use plant material that drops large amounts of fruit or seed pods. Select deciduous trees that drop all their leaves early in the fall season rather than those that retain brown leaves most of the winter and continue to be a maintenance problem for many months; some trees to avoid are Sycamore, Beech, and some Oaks.

Surface Runoff: Use trees, shrubs, grass and landscaping to reduce stormwater runoff. Terrace steep slopes.

Berms: Use berms to screen and restrict views. Limit berm slope to one foot in 10 feet. Do not use earth berms against building walls.

Function: Use landscape to reduce energy cost: shade to prevent heat and glare, and wind breaks to lessen air infiltration. Use landscape to screen unsightly views, control pedestrian circulation and define entries.

6. Sign Design Policytc "6. Sign Design Policy" tc ""

Provide signs that comply with base architectural compatibility. Comply with sign standards provided in ACCR 88-1, Exterior Signs.

Moving Signs: Do not use moving or revolving signs.

Monument: Use of pole mounted or AAFES concession monument signs is a local base decision that has to consider suitability in terms of base architectural compatibility issues. Base personnel should decide this issue.

Lettering Size: For signs other than those covered by ACCR 88-1, size lettering according to the functional viewing distance. Keep sign size to a minimum. The rule to follow for readability is one inch of letter height for each 25 feet of view distance. Example: If a sign is intended to be read from a passing car using a road 100 feet away, the largest sign lettering would be four inches (100 divided by 25 equal 4). Do not oversize.

AAFES/DeCA/Commercial Signs

Logo and lettering supplied by AAFES/DeCA/or the parent organization are required to be light to dark bronze. It must also be in compliance with the standards that follow.

Format shall be the AAFES logo followed by the facility name; i.e., AAFES BASE EXCHANGE. This format shall be used for all AAFES facilities including shoppettes, laundry and dry cleaners, military clothing sales, class six stores.

Logo and facility name shall be the same height and positioned on one continuous horizontal line wherever possible.

Facility name shall be spelled out completely with individual letters.

Logo and letters shall be mounted directly to the building fascia or exterior wall adjacent to the facility’s main entrance. The back edge of logo and letters shall be ¼ inch from the face of the wall or fascia.

Logo and letters shall be light or dark bronze anodized aluminum or other noncorrosive material in a light or dark bronze color. Select finish color for maximum contrast and readability.

Logo and letters shall be available in even height increments from 2 inches to 16 inches. Choose the appropriate size and color for each facility and location.

The ratio of height to depth of logo and letters shall be approximately 8 to 1.

Lighted Signs

Internally lighted signs create a commercial impression that is not compatible with ACC goals. When night visibility is functionally required, use external flood or spot lights that illuminate both the sign and adjacent landscape or building. Illumination of the sign with its surroundings makes a better impression and improves orientation.

Lettering

All lettering on all base signs should be of the same style. Upper case Helvetica medium type style is recommended.

6a.

Exterior Graphics, Striping and Bandingtc "6a.

Exterior Graphics, Striping and Banding" tc "" Super Graphics: Painted stripes and letters may be used to rehabilitate large, plain, existing buildings. Design graphics to function: define entrances, identify building numbers, conceal clutter. Proportion graphics to the building size; do not exceed three feet in height of letters or banding for the largest buildings.

Use: Use graphics to relate buildings to each other instead of making a building prominent.

Limits: Graphics are not required on every building. Too much graphic work reduces a building to a billboard. Except for painted masonry and metal buildings, identification signage should be located in adjacent landscaped space at eye level rather than being attached to walls or fascia. This will provide a better impression of the total base. A building’s order of importance should be established by factors such as quality of architecture and landscape, not size and location of signage.

New Buildings: Do not use high-color-contrasting bands and strips on new buildings. Use masonry detailing, or texture changes to provide interest. This does not apply to exposed aggregate panels when used as a fascia.

Structural Elements: Do not paint structural columns and beams. This approach generally creates clutter. Instead, design a banding scheme that relates the building to other buildings on the base.