WIESBADEN, Germany - Aukamm Elementary School second-graders got a construction update during a tour of four projects happening within a one-mile radius March 31 from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-Europe District officials.
"We're trying to get everything accomplished as quickly as possible and within budget," said Neil Ravensbergen, USACE-Europe District resident engineer.
As cranes, scaffolding, excavators and backhoes are finding temporary homes in the Wiesbaden military community, even some of the youngest community residents' curiosities are at their peak.
"They wanted to know what was going on," said Jean Bochow, Aukamm Elementary School second-grade teacher. "They read a big story about the construction, and now they are very excited to see what's going on after watching it happen for so long."
The U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden and USACE are overseeing the construction of several major projects that collectively total roughly $500 million, including a lodging facility, a bowling/recreation center, a child development center, a middle school multipurpose center, as well as future upgrades and construction to the Wiesbaden High School campus.
"We'll demolish a few buildings and will be building a new gym and make additional classroom space," said Ravensbergen, who also said contracting and construction details are not finalized and remain in the works for the high school project.
The young scholars were interested to know details ranging from "what is concrete made of," "how much does certain equipment weigh," to "how much will it cost to rent a room at the lodge."
"I was interested in knowing how they get cement and water into steel," said Tau Tafua, Aukamm Elementary second-grader, who said he is most excited about the completion of the bowling center. "I could go there a million times to get a lot of hamburgers ... and bowling too."
The Army lodge in the Hainerberg Housing area, due to be finished by summer's end, will have 164 units - 64 standard, eight extended stay rooms with kitchenettes, 92 extended stay family suites - and 134 parking spaces, and will cost about $32 million.
"The USACE is helping the Wiesbaden community get ready for the future as an enduring installation for the U.S. Army in Europe," said Rachel Goodspeed, USACE-Europe District public affairs specialist.
Next in line for completion is the Wiesbaden Middle School multipurpose center, budgeted for about $5 million that will offer the Department of Defense Dependents Schools-Europe more academic and extracurricular space.
Morale, Welfare and Recreation will foot the $8 million bill for the coming bowling/recreation center that will offer 16 lanes of bowling, an American cuisine-styled restaurant and a bar.
Look for information on transformation updates in the Wiesbaden military community in upcoming issues of the Herald Union and online at www.wiesbaden.army.mil.
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