Forward-looking technologies from two different industries—building design and construction and aerospace—come together in this hangar for aviation company Solar Ship. Located at the Brantford, Ontario, Municipal Airport, innovative cargo aircraft are manufactured and stored in a 40,597-square-foot facility that was designed, engineered, and installed by Legacy Building Solutions.
RIGHT STRUCTURE FOR THE JOB
The significant size of the hybrid airships was one reason why a rigid steel-framed tension fabric building was the right structure for the job. The minimum dimension for the hangar door was 169 feet by 59 feet. Positioned on an endwall of the 176-foot by 231-foot clear-span building, the bi-parting opening accommodates the current portfolio of the Solar Ship fleet, which have wingspans up to 98 feet, and anticipates the development of a prototype with a 164-foot wingspan. With a roof peak of 82 feet and a 60-foot eave clearance, there is ample vertical clearance inside the hangar for maneuvering the buoyant gas-fueled craft through the assembly process.
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Featured Image: With a roof peak of 82 feet and a 60-foot eave clearance, there is ample vertical clearance inside the hangar for maneuvering the buoyant gas-fueled craft through the assembly process.
Above: Legacy Building Solutions designed, engineered, and installed a 40,597-square-foot hangar for aviation company Solar Ship in Brantford, Ontario, Canada.
ENVIRONMENTAL VALUES
The robust structure of the building also supports—quite literally—the environmental values of Solar Ship. The roof of the hangar features an array of solar panels that allow the building to operate off the grid. Facilitated by the exceptional load capacity of Legacy’s rigid steel framing and using proven design principles, a series of I-beams runs parallel to the solar panels, reducing uplift beneath them and enhancing the structure’s stability. While the pitch of the roof enables the photovoltaic panels to efficiently harvest solar energy, it is also rated for 1.18 kPa rain-on-snow load and .42 kPa wind load.
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SUSTAINABILITY PROFILE
Other aspects of the building contribute to its sustainability profile. Mesh soffits and RV-3000 peak vents enhance passive ventilation. The translucent fabric cladding admits ample daylight, lowering reliance on (and cost of) artificial lighting. The 15-ounce flame-retardant polyethylene fabric can be recycled.
Lewis Reford, a partner at Solar Ship, says, “Legacy Building Solutions has given Solar Ship more than just a state-of-the-art hangar and assembly building. Through our close collaboration, their design incorporates a self-reliant photovoltaic power package that sits above the fabric roof, allowing our building operations to be entirely off-grid. In addition, Legacy’s foundation design allowed us to reuse an existing concrete pad, saving us time and money during construction. These innovations were part of our top-level requirements, and delivering on them really sets Legacy apart from the traditional building segment.” ■
For More Information:  Legacy Building Solutions designs, manufactures, engineers, and installs large-scale custom fabric structures for a wide range of industries, including the aviation, recreational, military, and agricultural sectors. Headquartered in South Haven, Minnesota, Legacy Building Solutions provides services worldwide. Committed to sustainability and best management practices, the firm has achieved ISO 9001:2008 and CSA A660-10 certifications. www.legacybuildingsolutions.com
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Modern Contractor Solutions – June 2016
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