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Tinker celebrates new clinic with ribbon cutting ceremony

  • Published
  • By Brandice J. O'Brien
  • Tinker Public Affairs
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  The 72nd Medical Group is another step closer to inhabiting its new digs. On July 16, hundreds of Team Tinker personnel gathered outside in front of the 171,000-square-foot building for the ribbon cutting ceremony.

Situated across from Gott Gate, between Codding Road and the Hill Conference Center on S. Air Depot Boulevard, the newly numbered Bldg. 1094 was a crowd pleaser. The building officially opens for business July 31.

"Welcome to your new medical clinic," said Col. Steven Bleymaier, 72nd Air Base Wing and Tinker installation commander, to a cheering crowd. "This ceremony isn't just to celebrate a facility or a building; it's really about a team. The heart of that team is the men and women of the 72nd Medical Group. It's because the 72nd Medical Group, under the leadership of Col. Dean Prentice, is one of the great enablers of Team Tinker's ability to provide readiness and put mission ready Airmen and aircraft in the air. The professionals in the 72nd Med Group know it's not about them, it's about those they serve... and they answer the call of others, so others can succeed."

Designed by architectural firm Sherlock, Smith and Adams; Hensel Phelps Construction Company was awarded the construction contract. The clinic is part of the Department of Defense's Military Construction Program. Meaning, Congress approved the project and provided the funds to pay for the $51 million clinic. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers managed the project.

The new facility will be operated by the medical group. Tenants will include the 507th Medical Reserve Squadron, Navy medical personnel assigned to Strategic Communications Wing ONE and U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs Pre-Discharge Disability Claims Office.

"Today marks a new beginning in the medical group here at Tinker," said Colonel Prentice. "This new facility provides our community another 50 years of quality healthcare. When these doors open July 31 for our first patients, they will be welcomed into a state-of-art facility designed for our patients' needs. This new facility will help the medical group meet its mission of being leaders and providing world-class healthcare."

The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, silver energy-efficient facility features a light-colored roof and paving materials that minimize heat absorption, large windows and sky lights to maximize the use of natural light and to recycle water by capturing water on the roof through drains and using it to flush toilets.

Inside, it offers a large atrium, informational TV screens, a coffee bar, an orthopedic clinic, on-site mammograms, flight-surgeon clinic, and larger dental clinic, in addition to other assets currently available.

The new medical treatment facility will be the fourth one in Tinker's history. The first one opened when the installation was founded in the 1940s. Approximately 15 years later, when the base outgrew the initial facility, a new hospital was constructed east of the Sooner Road perimeter fence. And in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, additions were added to increase the clinic space to the current 188,000-square-foot facility.

Though it was initially constructed as an in-patient center with surgical suites and patient rooms, the medical group's mission changed in the 1990s and the in-patient services ended. Surgical suites and patient rooms are now used for storage, training rooms and offices.

When the May 1999 tornado struck, it damaged Bldg. 5801. While the outside remains presentable, the support structure was damaged. Repairs were made to suit the short-term need, but were not designed to be permanent.