SMALL AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE DOCK
Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi
Columbus
Air Force Base, Mississippi
Design Excellence Award from Eastern
Region, AFRCE, 1984
"Your
professional drive to produce aesthetic excellence as well as technical
excellence is commendable. The Maintenance Dock illustrates the Air
Force's desire to improve architectural and engineering design excellence
and will serve to improve morale and functional needs of Columbus AFB
for years to come." ....Department of the Air Force.
Submitted by the Air Force to the Pentagon
in their worldwide design awards program.
The project consisted of a
41,124 S.F., column free hangar space and a 6,864 S.F. shop and administration
area. The hangar space was designed to provide simultaneous maintenance
operations for seven T-38 and five T-46A aircraft.
KYCA provided construction
administration as well as the construction sequence, temporary supports, etc. Design
and construction documents for this fast track project were completed withih
ten months.
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Considerations:
- The facility is located
on the primary streets leading from the main gates of the base.
Visibility is very high. A total facility design concept was
implemented. This included the functional and visual aspects of
architectural design as well as structural, mechanical and electrical
considerations.
- Precast wall panels in
the exterior enhanced the structure. They were maintenance free and were
compatible with other buildings in the vicinity. The appearance of the
hangar diverted away from the conventional, utilitarian look.
- Additionally, the
structural system was creative, sound and sensible.
- Construction materials
are readily available on the market and do not require special skills or
trades for construction.
- As designed, the
construction cost was only 73% of Government allocated budget.
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Project
Layout:
- Ample aisle space
enables the aircraft to be towed in and out of the hangar without
interrupting ongoing aircraft maintenance work.
- An approach apron is
located at each end of the hangar for easy access.
- Overhead fire drapes
crisscross the center of the building, dividing the hangar into four
fire zones. A foam (AFFF) system was utilized to suppress fire.
- Parking for 20
privately owned vehicles (POV) is also included in this project.
- In the hangar space,
three self-stabilized, space frame, box type trusses are used; one at
each end and one at the center of the building. The box type trusses
support gravity loads as well as provide lateral stability for the
building. The vertical portion of the box type truss at the ends of the
building also function as door pockets. Long span, open web, steel
joists are utilized to span between box trusses. This results in a
flushed bottom structure without wasting building volume. The projected
portion of the box trusses above the roof line create an interesting
structural shape and enhance aesthetics.
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