Hot on the heels of several other notable airline industry projects, Varco Pruden Builder™ Lemartec announced the completion of two pre-engineered hybrid steel airport hangars at the Opa-Locka Executive Airport, a former military training airport gaining popularity as a full-service station for private jets.
Opened in January 2014 by a well-funded company called Orion Jet Center, the airport is minutes from downtown, South Beach, Bal Harbour and Fort Lauderdale. It is one of the largest independent FBOs in the U.S. and a private airport of choice for business aviation in Miami.
After a long development drought, construction activity at the 87-year-old Opa-Locka Executive Airport began picking up six years ago, creating fresh facilities fit for the region’s jet-set crowd. The number of private jets based there has shot up to 147 from 90 five years ago and from 53 a decade ago. Now more than half of the aircraft based there are jets, up from about one-third in 2009 and one-sixth in 2004.
Project Summary
This latest project in Lemartec’s collection features several of Varco Pruden’s high-quality products.
On both hangars, Varco Pruden’s Continuous Beam framing system was used to support a transversal transfer frame located at the ridge. Three-plate tapered rafters and columns were also included in the construction of the hangars. Lean-to frames and a monorail crane support beam offer support from column to column on the structures. And an S-shape runway beam is supported off of the lean-to column in each hangar. For the roofing component, Varco Pruden’s HWR (High Wind Roof) system was used and for the wall component, the company’s Panel Rib™ product was used – both in a Cool Cotton White finish.
Designed by Orlando, Florida-based SchenkelShultz Architecture, the two 46,967-square-foot hangar structures each include more than 2,470 LF of four-foot parapet wall as well.
Each hangar features a seven-foot deep, 28-ton jack-frame to reinforce the metal building structure. Additionally, the hangars both include a total of 480 linear feet of an interior multi-gutter system with through-wall scuppers at the metal building parapet.
The construction of the project presented several unique challenges. Chief among the challenges was the extremely windy Florida climate. The threat of hurricanes is very real for Florida during the six-month long Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 until November 30. The dangers of a storm include torrential rains and intensely strong high winds.
Weather-tight and structurally sound roofs are essential in high-wind and hurricane-prone regions such as Florida. One way Florida has responded to hurricane winds is by enacting stricter building codes. To meet these stringent requirements, Varco Pruden’s HWR product was installed. Varco Pruden offers metal roofs that meet the toughest code regulations, including Miami-Dade County and Florida Building Code approvals.
With stronger clip connection and superior seam technology, Varco Pruden’s high-performance metal roofing panels have an extremely high resistance to hurricane-force wind damage.
The enhanced wind resistant High Wind Roof system and advanced hybrid framing system furnished by Varco Pruden helped to make this project successful. “We overcame all of the challenges with the help of VP Buildings,” said Felipe Aguiar, director of marketing for Lemartec.
About Lemartec
Lemartec is a design-build & construction management firm specializing in pre-engineered metal building design & construction. Lemartec utilizes an in-house design department which allows the company to create value for clients by offering value engineering, cost control estimates, schedule and constructability analysis, as well as alternate methods and materials studies. For additional information, visit www.lemartec.com.