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Ceremony Celebrates Completion of El Centro Naval Air Facility Hangars

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS090819-09
Release Date: 8/19/2009 4:46:00 PM

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

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- A ribbon cutting ceremony marks the completion of an $18 million construction project to build 21st century hangars for Naval Air Facility (NAF) El Centro.

"This project was the second phase of a two phase hangar project," said Howard Sweatte, NAVFAC Southwest project manager for the NAF El Centro hangar project. "The new hangars are targeting the new joint strike fighter (JSF) among other aircraft. This project brings hangar support into the 21st century at NAF El Centro."

The second phase of the construction project began with the demolition of old hangars in early September 2008.

"The contractor demoed three, single-bay hangars and replace(d) 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 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 provide day lighting without the harsh direct sun. They are designed to withstand 160 mph winds."

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