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Cutting through to a new facility

By Staff Sgt. Justyne Obeldobel, 911th Public Affairs / Published February 09, 2016

Members of the 911th Airlift Wing and the Navy Operational Support Center Pittsburgh cut the ceremonial ribbon at the grand opening of the new Cargo Bay Community Center, Pittsburgh International Airport Air Reserve Station, Feb. 6, 2016. The new community center houses increased seating with an open concept floor plan, a separate “demilitarized” gaming zone and a new bar. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Justyne Obeldobel)
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Members of the 911th Airlift Wing and the Navy Operational Support Center Pittsburgh cut the ceremonial ribbon at the grand opening of the new Cargo Bay Community Center, Pittsburgh International Airport Air Reserve Station, Feb. 6, 2016. The new community center houses increased seating with an open concept floor plan, a separate “demilitarized” gaming zone and a new bar. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Justyne Obeldobel)

Congressmen Tim Murphy, R-PA 18, speaks with Col. Jeffrey Van Dootingh, 911th Airlift Wing commander, and his wife during social hour at the new community center on Pittsburgh International Airport Air Reserve Station, Feb. 6, 2016. The grand opening of the community unveiled an open concept floor plan, more seating, a new bar, and a gaming zone for Airmen. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Justyne Obeldobel)
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Congressmen Tim Murphy, R-PA 18, speaks with Col. Jeffrey Van Dootingh, 911th Airlift Wing commander, and his wife during social hour at the new community center on Pittsburgh International Airport Air Reserve Station, Feb. 6, 2016. The grand opening of the community unveiled an open concept floor plan, more seating, a new bar, and a gaming zone for Airmen. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Justyne Obeldobel)

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PITTSBURGH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AIR RESERVE STATION, Pa. --    A ribbon cutting ceremony held, Feb. 6, 2016 marked the grand opening of the 911th Airlift Wing's new Cargo Bay Community Center here.

The $2.1 million renovation paved way for the former dining hall and consolidated club to converge into one facility.   The new community center can house more dining area seating, provide a separate gaming space for Airmen, and set the stage for accommodating more events with the choice of different rooms.


The new community center, tagged "The Bay," will allow for more seats with an open concept floor plan. The open concept creates a 20 percent increase in seating and streamlines the time it takes to serve meals to base personnel during peak breakfast and lunch hours. 

The new floor plan allows  an updated bar and lounge area with a seating area that can be used for events formerly held at the previous Club Cargo Bay consolidated club.

The Cargo Bay Community Center is open to all Department of Defense ID card holders. Western Pennsylvania, southeast Ohio, and northern West Virginia host more than 50,000 members eligible to use the new community center.

The Bay also boasts a new menu, providing options for those members who live out of the area staying in local lodging. Instead of an already chosen precooked meal, the member can choose from different items on the menu such as appetizers, main entree, desserts and drinks. This enables the force support squadron to provide the member a choice in food and cuts down on food waste previously seen in past unit training assemblies.

Lt. Col. Stephanie Wellhouse, 911th Force Support Squadron commander, said this project needed attention from many entities on base, civil engineering, communications squadron, the base operations and support contractors, contracting and Airmen from her squadron. .

"Without these many pegs to the wheel, the new Cargo Bay Community Center would have been just a dream and not a reality," said Welhouse.

"This project was truly a one team, one fight, victory for all. This new center truly benefits from camaraderie," said Wellhouse.