With the snip of a ribbon and the passing of a key, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Europe District officially turned over Building 1007 to 5th Signal Command on February 26 at the Wiesbaden Army Airfield. Command Sgt. Maj. Marilyn Washington, 5th S...
WIESBADEN, Germany - With a snip from three enormous scissors, 5th Signal Command moved into its new headquarters in the newly-renovated Building 1007 February 26 at the Wiesbaden Army Airfield.
Although 5th Signal officially relocated from Mannheim in late October 2009, portions of the command group has been conducting business out of a temporary facility since then. The move was part of the first phase of relocation, which included approximately 125 Soldiers and civilians along with their family members. The remaining staff in Mannheim will move directly into Building 1007 along with the rest of the command group.
During the ceremony, Col. John Cox, 5th Signal acting-commanding general, praised the cooperation between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Europe District, who managed the renovations, the U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden, the German construction firm and others who dedicated their time and efforts to bring this facility to 5th Signal Command.
"It took a lot of smart people dedicating tons of time and effort to prepare a building of this size," said Cox. "We are looking forward to moving into this building and hopefully adding to the great lineage that has passed through this building."
Back when the airfield was Filegerhorst Wiesbaden, building 1007 served as an important part of the Army's history in the area. The building housed an infantry battalion in the 1970s and in the early 1990s, it was home of the 3rd Corps Support Command headquarters.
"New construction is great, but anytime we can renovate an existing building we save resources, preserve the historic feel of the airfield and still provide the garrison with a state-of-the-art facility," said Col. John Kem, commander of the Europe District.
The 10 million euro renovation includes a new fire protection system, new communication and electrical systems, and new heating and ventilation upgrades. In addition, the building houses a computer network, storage vaults, training rooms and administrative offices for more than 375 personnel.
"This relocation for 5th Signal is a part of an even greater effort to centralize the Army in Europe and this building marks a new chapter in our history," said Cox. "A lot of great people have passed before us and we are honored to be a part of this team."
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