Reef: Dining Facility spices up its interior with remodel and cools down its patrons with new AC

  • Published
  • By Dylan Laurie
  • 1st SOW Public Affairs
HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. --  The Hurlburt Field Reef dining facility is in the midst of a renovation which will provide patrons with a new atmosphere of comfort and style.

Back in March 2006, one of the hood fire suppression systems activated at night after the Reef was closed. This was due to its age, according to Master Sgt. Richard Burroughs, 1st Special Operations Services Squadron Reef Dining Facility manager.

"The fire department was going to shut my other hood down as a preventive measure until the plans came through for remodeling at a later date," Sergeant Burroughs said. "This would have been unacceptable as I would have lost my grill for the omelets and lunch stir fry. We did some talking with contracting and civil engineering to get a contractor in here to replace the hoods and the fire suppression system."

The exhaust hoods on the serving line were replaced at an estimated $34,000, according to Jennifer Cooper, 1st Special Operations Civil Engineer Squadron.

"The new hoods have lighting in them so the chef can better see their work, as well as enhanced air circulation," Sergeant Burroughs said.

The work was done the week before and after Christmas to minimize disrupting patrons' dining experience, according to Sergeant Burroughs.

"We opted to replace them during the Christmas timeframe because of the low manning the base goes into during the holiday season," Sergeant Burroughs said. "We also had new air handlers installed for our heating and air conditioning system."

The heating and air conditioning system, which is the original that was installed in 1955, needed to be repaired after it soaked a section of the wall, according to Ms. Cooper.

The big difference with the new system is automatic temperature sensors that switch the system from cool to heat with the varying conditions inside the building, according to Sergeant Burroughs.

"We also purchased and installed new tables and chairs that enhanced the dining experience by better matching the decor of the facility," Sergeant Burroughs said. "Additional longer tables that will sit at least 6-8 more guests are in the plans. We are also in the planning stages for a new facility to replace this one."

The Reef was last renovated in the mid-1990s and does not meet the wing commander's vision for future quality facilities for the enlisted force, according to Lt. Col. Lisa Hansen, 1st Special Operations Services Squadron Commander. The kitchen work area is much smaller than modern Air Force kitchens, impairing mission efficiency and effectiveness. Mission growth on Hurlburt Field is expected to increase the number of Airmen using the Reef and Riptide Dining Facilities by 600 by Fiscal Year 2010.

The wing commander's vision is to replicate the Riptide, except that the second floor would be an Airmans' Recreation Center, not a physical fitness center.

The Reef is being reviewed for replacement through the Department of Defense's military construction program, which normally takes about five years to go through the process, according to Denvel Milam, 1st Special Operations Civil Engineer Squadron Project Programmer.