Howard Building Corporation

Project Description

GE Aviation is a world-leading provider of jet and turboprop engines, components and integrated systems for commercial, military, and general aviation aircraft and ship propulsion applications. Previously Smiths Aerospace, GE Aviation has a global network with more than 11,000 employees and supplies the largest aircraft manufacturing companies in the world. Howard Building Corporation and architects at Ware Malcomb worked together to build a 150,000 square foot manufacturing and testing facility that assembles and air certifies fuel tanks and air to air fuel delivery systems. Much of the production at this facility involves hazardous materials, primarily highly flammable chemicals and JP-4 surrogates, requiring an intensive level of fire protection in the building's construction. A 20,000 square foot ground-up H-2 building was constructed to house the air refueling system for the Boeing 767 program. The space allows for full simulation testing of air to air refueling deployment, which includes a pressurized fuel delivery system, a hydraulic test assembly, and three 2,000 gallon jet fuel tanks. The entire test bed area was built to H-2 code requirements with 1 hour fire resistant construction and ¾ hour fire protection at all doors and windows.