March Air Reserve Base, Riverside County, Calif.
MATERIALS
During the last decade, security standards for facilities have increased, especially within aging military installations built prior to World War II. To ensure these buildings are secure for today’s threats, the Washington, D.C.-based U.S. Department of Defense created the Unified Facilities Criteria (UFC). However, this has created a new problem for facilities on the National Register of Historic Places. The National Historic Preservation Act, or NHPA, stipulates any building determined to be a historic property requires consideration of the effects of anti-terrorism measures upon the building, and any adverse effects should be avoided or minimized. Further complicating the matter, the UFC standard does not supersede compliance with NHPA.
March Air Reserve Base is on the national register and subject to UFC codes and, therefore, was facing a challenge of securing the Primary Gathering Building against new threats. Its representatives needed to find a door that met UFC and NHPA standards.
Krieger Specialty Products was called in to develop a new pair of doors that would achieve the historic design style and comply with the UFC blast-resistance requirements. To do this, Krieger representatives first started with the company’s custom-manufactured blast-resistant metal door and then added metal moldings that mimicked the original wooden moldings. The pair of doors also contained windows and a transom that needed to be updated, as well. In each case, Krieger ensured the size, style and color were recreated.
The new doors not only match the old doors, but also are now blast resistant up to 1.0 psi. In addition, the doors are metal, not wood, and should stand up to normal wear and tear.
DOOR MANUFACTURER: Krieger Specialty Products
THE RETROFIT
March Field was established on March 20, 1918, in honor of Second Lieutenant Peyton C. March Jr. who died in a flying accident in Texas. However, a few months after the signing of the World War I armistice on November 11, 1918, the activities at March Field were phased down and the base was almost closed in April 1923, leaving just one sergeant in charge. The base became active again in July 1926 when Congress created the Army Air Corps and approved the Army’s expansion in pilot training and development of tactical units at March Field.
Much of March Field’s current appearance, including the first phase of permanent buildings, was completed in 1934. This development enabled March Field to serve as a final training location for many WWII bombardment groups headed for the Pacific. In fact, at its height, March Field supported 85,000 troops. After WWII, March Field reverted to its original role as a Tactical Air Command base and during the next 50 years would be used as a Strategic Air Command for the Vietnam War and the Cold War. March Field then was selected for realignment and, on April 1, 1996, March Field officially became March Air Reserve Base.
PHOTO: Krieger Specialty Products