The new C-17 Globemaster Aircraft Parts Store and Engine Storage Facility at Travis Air Force Base in California utilized 34,000 sq. ft. of Metl-Span CF36 Architectural wall panels installed in a horizontal configuration. The 2” panels were finished in custom color Air Force Base Tan.
The C-17 Globemaster functions as a cargo and troop transport with a wingspan of 170 feet and a payload capacity of 170,900 pounds.
The 60,000 sq. ft. design build project utilized a pre-engineered building by VP Buildings, Memphis. The project is included in VP’s 2007 Hall of Fame for Outstanding Government projects. The U.S. Government is also using the project as a template and guideline for 21 additional structures to be built on various installations throughout the country.
Design of the building was done by Cotner Buildings & Supply, Meridian, ID, in conjunction with the architectural firm of Frankfurt Short Bruza in Oklahoma City.
The initial specifications called for a standard vertical wall panel, according to Rich Cotner, but the Air Force wanted horizontal panels. The metal building was already designed and into fabrication when the decision was made to use horizontal panels. “That brought up the issue of how to attach horizontal metal panels to a horizontal metal girt,” said Cotner. “So we redesigned the support for a hat track system and clad the entire exterior of the building with it.”
All of the panels have factory folds with no exposed corners. According to Cotner, “It’s tough to take a set of drawings and build panels and then actually have them work in the field. We took great pains to make sure the hat track system would match exactly what we were ordering. A lot of that responsibility fell to Metl-Span. We did some field verification early on but I was on the phone with the engineers at Metl-Span every other day for a couple of months in the design aspect. They were great to work with. Once the panels arrived on site, installation really flew. Everything fit perfectly. There are no leaks. Everybody’s happy!”
The general contractor on the project was James N. Gray Company, Lexington, KY and the construction manager was the U.S. Navy.
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