e. Consolidation
(3) Open, Attractive and Non-Institutional. The com-
munity facilities should present an open, inviting image
that is non-institutional. The soldiers should feel that
Inherent in the Community Activity Center concept is the
they are "getting away" from the military life when enter-
principle of consolidation. Functions previously operated
ing this community environment. This factor is often
and accommodated separately, specifically MSA but
cited in explaining the competitive attraction of off-post
potentially the full range of MWR programs, are to be
activities in comparison to on-post MSA functions. The
consolidated into combined facilities, either single build-
use of private market mechanisms, as in civilian shop-
ings or coordinated complexes (see figures 3 - 7 and
ping centers, may make MSA functions more responsive
3 - 8, and illustrative plans in figures 3 - 12 through
to local demand. For example, selected CAC functions
3 - 14). However, consolidation should only be applied
may be franchised to private concessionaires, such as
to the extent appropriate to service needs and program
fast food operators or skating rink operators.
operation. The purposes underlying this principle
include:
The buildings should be open in design, with multiple
entries. The users should not feel they are going
(1) Facility Cost Savings. Cost savings in community
through a control point to use the facilities, or to go from
facilities are foreseen both in initial and life-cycle costs.
one activity to another. The design should encourage
Construction savings in reduced space requirements
freedom of movement and alternative routes among the
should result from shared use of multi-purpose function-
activities.
spaces and elimination of duplicated support spaces.
Facility maintenance and operating economies, including
Community facilities should provide an attractive and
energy savings, should result from the reduced building
identifiable focus for the community. They should be
square footage and, through proper zoning, from effec-
designed to create a sense of place, making a distinct,
tive patterns of operating only parts of the facilities at a
non-institutional, architectural statement. They should be
time, as needed.
sited, reflecting access patterns and topography, to be
readily visible to the individuals who make up the
community.
DG 1110-3-142 Page 3-9
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