LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. - The 79th Sustainment Support Command officially opened its new 53,000-square-foot headquarters facility on Joint Forces Training Base Los Alamitos Jan. 12.
Hosting fellow soldiers, civic leaders and community members was Maj. Gen. William D. Frink, Jr., 79th SSC commander.
"The structure behind me ... is proof positive of U.S. Army commitment to our Army Reserve soldiers," said Frink. "Our new home represents $29 million worth of construction in Southern California. This is tangible recognition of the Army Reserve as an indispensable force to our Nation."
For a sustainable future, Corps projects like this one are designed using the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Program. LEED is how the U.S. Green Building Council rates a project for its design and achievement in categories like sustainability, water efficiency, energy conservation and design innovation.
"We demonstrate care for our community by ensuring we are good stewards of our environment," said Frink. "The building behind me is LEED Gold. It optimizes energy performance and was built with regional material to cut down on our carbon footprint. It has low water consumption and uses both renewable energy and recycled material."
Even the covered parking lots are an energy feature. Covered in a photo voltaic system that, according to Edward Desmond of Cox Construction of Vista, Calif., will produce 375 KVA (kilovolt-amps), generating enough power to offset the building's consumption on the Los Alamitos power grid.
The 79th SSC commands approximately 20,000 Army Reserve soldiers and civilians across 19 states located west of the Mississippi River. By all accounts, this state-of-the-art facility is well equipped to enhance mission readiness and family well-being for such a geographically dispersed unit.
"I think it helps to build camaraderie," said Ann Nacino, Youth Services specialist. "It helps to build that connection with the soldiers and civilians that support the command full time."
"This building tends to be a beacon for family members of all different services," said Sherry Rallis, Family Readiness community outreach assistant. "We really enjoy, as staff, collaborating with each other and welcoming family members and Soldiers that now have direct access to us, all in the same building."