Aerospace R&D Building

The design team sought the expertise and collaboration of AltusGroup member Wells in framing out the building’s overall layout, as well as understanding the unique makeup and possibilities of the different building solutions — including prefabricated walls and spandrels — to ensure a sound structure, and efficient timeline.

The structure accommodates a high bay manufacturing facility with cleanrooms, and a four-story office complex. In addition to meeting the high load-bearing requirements for this new and versatile space, the new facility matches the architectural design of the existing campus — namely, its dual-colored, field-laid brick exterior. In a span of less than four months, Wells constructed a total precast facility, with an office building, as well as the high bay manufacturing area, using load-bearing architectural columns and spandrels.

The two-story high bay manufacturing area utilizes insulated CarbonCast High Performance Insulated Wall Panels painted a traditional, unassuming slate gray and is topped with a double tee precast roof, designed to support additional metal structures incorporating mechanical components— with load requirements as high as 250 pounds per sq ft.

The interior is framed with T-Beam columns for additional reinforcement, creating one supported level, a floor and roof. To achieve the heavy loading floor strength, Wells leveraged larger tees, installed deeper than usual, beneath the facility’s foundation. These key structural components, along with strategically reinforced interior wall paneling, enabled the installation of large interior viewing windows — through which investors could view projects in progress — to meet the manufacturer’s requirements for its research and development projects.