HNTB provided lead architecture and civil engineering for the design of the $123.5 million Jacksonville Hangar project, which also includes administrative offices and an aircraft parking apron.

The hangar facilities, one of the largest in the U.S., is truly innovative in terms of design excellence and integration of sustainability factors. The project provides a new 210,000 sq. ft. maintenance hangar, 140,000 sq. ft. of office space, 128,000 sq. yd. aircraft parking apron/taxiway, 46,000 sq. yd. privately-owned vehicle parking,and associated site and utility improvements to accommodate six aircraft squadrons moving from NAS Brunswick, ME to NAS Jacksonville.

The design/build team chose to design and deliver a project that would set the standard in sustainable design and development for projects of this type for the Navy and aircraft hangar projects in general.  Given the project’s size, scope, importance for the Navy and its location as a signature project at the entrance to the installation, the design/build team pushed the envelope and designed and delivered a project that far exceeded the LEED Certified rating equivalent requirement set by the owner. Instead the designers and builders pursued a project that the team feels will qualify for a LEED Silver rating through actual Certification with the GBCI.

Some of the key LEED elements in the project include the following:

  • Six major translucent design/day lighting elements across the building façade that introduce natural into the massive hangar space, providing a high quality of lighting, reduced energy costs and distinct architectural design element to break up the buildings’ large scale
  • Sun screening devices that shade the southward facing windows in the administrative spaces
  • Low-impact development strategies, including pervious paving and grass block paving in the parking areas to reduce heat island effects and stormwater runoff
  • Infrared heating and other energy savings strategies to reduce the building’s consumption of energy
  • Ultra light-colored concrete with a high degree of solar reflectance, minimizing the heat island effect of the aircraft apron parking and taxiway areas

Location: Jacksonville, FL

Client: U.S. Department of Defense