Brunswick Naval Air Station

Matrix led a group of local and national economists, engineers, architects, and planners through an 18-month process that includes not only an analysis of the site’s physical, environmental, infrastructure, buildings, and facilities, but also a significant public engagement program.

This base was a 3,300-acre military enclave totally within the jurisdictional limits of the Town of Brunswick, Maine.   The base was the last active-duty Department of Defense airfield remaining in the northeast, and was home to five active duty and two reserve squadrons. The base’s two 8,000 foot runways and airside support infrastructure and systems, which encompass over 1,300 acres of the base, provided year-round airport services and support on a 24/7 basis.  NAS Brunswick has 29 tenant commands, including a Reserve P-3 squadron and a Reserve Fleet Logistics Support Squadron flying C-130 “Hercules” transports. In addition, over 1,600 Naval Reservists traveled from throughout New England to drill at Naval Air Reserve Brunswick, SeaBee Battalion, and numerous other reserve commands. 

Matrix led a group of local and national economists, engineers, architects, and planners through an 18-month process that includes not only an analysis of the site’s physical, environmental, infrastructure, buildings, and facilities, but also a significant public engagement program.  That program, designed by the Brunswick Local Redevelopment Authority’s (BLRA) planning staff, was based on a series of interactive public workshops that included the general Brunswick community, as well as Brunswick High School students, and on-base military and civilian employees.  Hands-on visioning charettes were held to gain insight into the public’s future vision of the property, and to determine the range of land use types and character considered important and acceptable for redevelopment of the base.  The results of these well-attended public sessions, along with the results of the inventory and analysis of existing base conditions became the basis for the formulation of conceptual plan alternatives, and the ultimate “Preferred” Base Reuse Plan.