The wing headquarters building here and the security forces buildings on either side of it are the kind of structures that make an engineer tip his head and rub his chin. With oddly sloping roofs and walls, these buildings seem to waste space.

A peek inside a renovated building proves that the engineering flight of the 376th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron is a match for the challenge.

“This is what we do every day,” said Capt. Heath Duncan, commander of the engineering flight.

Visions for improvement around base abound -- anyone with an idea for improvement is a potential customer for the engineering flight. But like the buildings’ geometrically limiting factors, the entire base operates inside certain limiting factors -- manpower, real estate, security parameters and funding.

“Everything is a balance, and we have to create that balance,” Captain Duncan said.

Like all deployed locations, Manas Air Base presents the challenge of semi-permanence. Structures must be sturdy and livable, but also present a small footprint and be easily relocatable.

The engineers have to figure in utilization of the escort flight, as well. Escorts are required anywhere contractors are working. Daily workers like janitors and dining facility employees keep about half of the escort flight personnel busy, leaving just a few dozen for construction projects around base, said 1st Lt. Jason Brinkmoeller, chief of design for the engineering flight.

“We take all these challenges and have to determine what’s best for us as a wing,” Captain Duncan said. For instance, he said, if someone asks for a new restroom facility, depending on the factors involved they may get a port-o-potty instead of a latrine connex with plumbing.

“Not because we like you, not because we don’t like you, but because we’re in a state of reality,” he said.

Though the military members in the flight will only be here for four or six months, they have projected construction into 2007, doing their best to realize the commander’s vision for the long-term while also serving short-term customers.

“They do a phenomenal job,” said Col. Pam Moxley, 376th ECES commander. “We’re right where we want to be and on track for the future.”

Juggling variables and coming up with workable solutions is just part of the job, Lieutenant Brinkmoeller said. The headquarters renovation took nearly two weeks to design and will take almost two months to complete -- watching the final product come together has been worth every moment, he said.

“Engineers are problem solvers, we enjoy it,” he said.