Base leaders break ground on new base dorm Published Aug. 19, 2008 By Maj. Elizabeth Ortiz Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D -- Base leaders broke ground on the first new dormitory in the base's dorm master plan Aug. 19 here. "What a great day to finally break ground and replace our 40-to-50-year-old dorms," said Col. Joel Westa, 5th Bomb Wing commander. "This will give our youngest Airmen a place to come home to." Colonel Westa broke ground for the new dorm along with Col. Chris Ayres, 91st Missile Wing commander; Col. James Gallagher, 5th Mission Support Group commander; Chief Master Sgt. Mark Clark, 5th BW command chief master sergeant; Chief Master Sgt. Mark Brejcha, 91st MW command chief master sergeant; and Mike Comstock, vice-president of Comstock Construction. "Dorms take on a whole new meaning here," said Colonel Westa of his number 1 priority as installation commander. "Quality of life takes on great importance here." Featuring a three-story, 144-room design, the new dorm, an $18.2 million project, will be structured like apartment-styled quarters and incorporate state-of-the heating/cooling, saving an estimated $50,000 a year in utility costs. In addition, each dorm resident will have individual room temperature control and a private bathroom. With the current dorm configuration, two Airmen share a bathroom. Overall, six dorms will be built to replace the current dormitories, which were built between 1957 and 1975. Additionally, a new dining facility will also be built. "Our Airmen need a great place to live," said Colonel Westa of the fiscal year 2008 military construction project. "They deserve a sanctuary after a long day's work."