Work continues on the Wiesbaden Army Lodge, a $32 million, 164-room facility, which is scheduled to open later this year. The lodge will replace the American Arms Hotel, which has served the Wiesbaden community since the 1950s. (Mark Patton / Stars and Stripes)
WIESBADEN, Germany — Construction began this week on an $8.8 million entertainment center in Wiesbaden’s Hainerberg community, marking another step in a $500 million upgrade of facilities in preparation for 7th Army’s move to U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden.
U.S. Army Europe plans to move its headquarters there from Heidelberg, Germany, by 2012 or 2013, according to Army officials.
That will boost the military population from 13,000 to some 17,000 servicemembers, civilians and family members.
When they arrive, they’ll have plenty of on-base activities waiting for them.
The 27,000-square-foot, two-story entertainment facility will feature 16 bowling lanes, several dining options, a Java Café, a bar lounge, dance floor, slot machines, video games, conference room, party rooms, billiards, a glass-enclosed deck and an outdoor beer garden. The project is bankrolled by nonappropriated funds reinvested into the community from Army and Air Force Exchange Service receipts, said Army Corps of Engineers spokeswoman Rachel Goodspeed.
The center is expected to be completed in early 2010, according to Col. John Kem, commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Europe District.
"At that time, you’ll see the result of all this hard work: a unique, functional and modern quality-of-life facility that the entire community can be proud of," Kem said.
Overlooking the entertainment center construction is the $32 million Wiesbaden Army Lodge. The lodge will replace the American Arms Hotel, which is about five miles from Wiesbaden Army Airfield. Storage bunkers south of the airfield were demolished last month to make way for construction of 326 townhouses for use as military family housing. Upgrades also will continue on the various schools in the community.
Construction also is slated to begin this summer on a $119 million command-and-control center on the airfield, which is designed to be 7th Army headquarters. Other projects include an $89 million command intelligence center and a $28 million network warfare center. Completion dates for these projects are forecast to be late 2011 to 2012. Other long-term plans include new post exchange and commissary facilities closer to the lodge and entertainment center on Hainerberg.
Heidelberg’s mayor has publicly expressed displeasure over the move of the headquarters from Heidelberg. His Wiesbaden counterpart is all for it.
"I must say that the city of Wiesbaden is proud that 7th Army is going to be moving here," said Wiesbaden’s Lord Mayor Helmut Müller.
Work continues on the Wiesbaden Army Lodge, a $32 million, 164-room facility, which is scheduled to open later this year. The lodge will replace the American Arms Hotel, which has served the Wiesbaden community since the 1950s. (Mark Patton / Stars and Stripes)
A crane hovers over the future area of the Wiesbaden Entertainment Center, a $8.8 million facility, which is scheduled to be complete early next year. “This provides one facility that will be the focal point for soldier and family entertainment,” said Roger Gerber, Wiesbaden’s Transformation Stationing Management Office chief. “It’s long overdue as really an upgrade to our existing facilities.” (Mark Patton / Stars and Stripes)
A hallway under construction at the Wiesbaden Army Lodge. There are currently approximately 13,200 servicemembers, civilian employees and family members in the Wiesbaden footprint. With that number expected to rise over 17,000 in the next couple of years, multiple construction projects are already under way. (Mark Patton / Stars and Stripes)
