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Hangar Upgrades Bring NAF El Centro Facilities into 21st Century

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS081024-13
Release Date: 10/24/2008 6:43:00 AM

By Lee H. Saunders, Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest Public Affairs

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- An $18 million Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Southwest construction project to bring hangars at Naval Air Facility (NAF) El Centro into the 21st century began construction Oct. 17.

"The impact of this project will help make the technological leap from the existing hangars to the modern day facility unequaled on the West Coast," said Howard Sweatte, NAVFAC Southwest project manager for the NAF El Centro hangar project.

"The new hangars are targeting the new joint strike fighter among other aircraft. This project brings hangar support into the 21st century at NAF El Centro."

Primary contractor T.B. Penick & Sons, Inc. of San Diego began demolition of three hangars in early September.

"The contractor will demo three, single-bay hangars and replace them with two, double-bay hangers," said Melinda Russell, NAVFAC Southwest construction manager for the NAF El Centro hangar project. "The final result is one additional hangar bay for the base. This will impact the overall mission of NAF El Centro, by enabling an additional [detachment] to execute training here."

The two new hangars covering more than 65,000 square feet follow a modular design that will accommodate the housing of two separate squadron detachments (DETs) in each hangar for a total of four DETs. The hangar bays are pre-engineered buildings (PEBs).

"This facility is one of the first on the West Coast to use the translucent roll-up doors," said Sweatte. "The doors are light weight and cut down on maintenance from the sliding type that are difficult to open with dirt that gets in the tracks. The roll-up doors provides day lighting without the harsh direct sun. They are designed to withstand 160 mph winds."

The project will also include a reflective roof that minimizes solar heat gain. Sections of the exterior walls include strategically placed translucent panels that diffuse direct sun. The well insulated hangars will feature many sustainable elements.

"I can't tell you how excited I am about this project," said Russell. "Last year, I made the decision to leave active duty and make the transition to the civilian side of NAVFAC. When I was an ensign stationed in Guam, I was able to watch another civil engineer corps officer build a hangar. I have wanted that experience ever since.

"I feel incredibly blessed to be a part of this project and really have a positive impact on our nation's war fighter."

The project is scheduled for completion in spring 2010.

For more news from Naval Facilities Engineering Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/navfachq/.