Ground broken for new Tinker clinic Published June 26, 2009 By Brandice J. Armstrong Tinker Public Affairs TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Ground was ceremoniously broken June 15. Across from Gott Gate, between Coddling Road and the Hill Conference Center, state, city and Tinker officials welcomed the start of new construction and plans for a 170,000-square-foot medical facility. Held on a Monday morning when rains threatened to break through the low-hanging clouds, approximately 75 guests attended the event. Many sat in folding chairs and bleachers in front of a podium on the new construction site. Beyond the podium and down the slope was a blanket of fresh red dirt marked by pink and orange flags attached to wooden stakes. Golden shovels stood by, ready for the ceremonial first shovel of dirt. "Over the next two to three years you'll see a new building spring out of the ground, one that's been in the planning stages for several years," said Col. Robert Marks, 72nd Medical Group commander. "It has been conceived for only one reason -- to provide medical benefit to the Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Coast Guard members, civilian beneficiaries and their families that so richly deserve that benefit." When the new facility is open for business, the current medical clinic, Bldg. 5801, will be demolished. The new facility will be operated by the 72nd 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. It is estimated, the colonel said, the facility will provide approximately 500 medical and dental appointments, 1,400 prescriptions, 100 x-rays, 250 laboratory tests and 100 referrals everyday to the 54,000-plus beneficiaries. 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. Congress approved the project and provided the funds to pay for the more than $50 million clinic. Colonel Marks said 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 190,000-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, the colonel said. "At this point, a new facility seems to be the most cost-effective way to proceed," Colonel Marks said.