Nestled amidst the hills of Burbank, an empty industrial lot near Bob Hope Airport once held nothing but a giant cement slab. Today, that slab is now the site of the world’s very first “green” aviation hangar, a $17-million project christened Hangar 25. Opening in 2008, the hangar was designed for Shangri-La Construction and AVJET Corp. as a flagship model for future green projects throughout southern California.

In 2006, architects from J.R. Miller and Associates and Pinnacle Contracting were hired by Shangri-La Construction to face the difficult task of building a state-of-the-art, self-sufficient facility within the budgetary confines of a traditional aircraft hangar. The final design called for a 62,000-square-foot facility that incorporated a multitude of green features and solar power that would lead the hangar toward generating 110 percent of its own energy needs.

One component of the sustainability focus for Hangar 25 was the installation of 57,000 square feet of Metal Sales T2832 and TLC-1 metal wall panels on the outside façade of the facility. The Metal Sales TLC-1 panels contribute to 35 percent of the hangar’s recycled materials, and were coated with Valspar’s Fluropon in Metallic Silver and Mistique Plus, adding brilliance and sheen to the outside structure. The T2832 panels were acrylic coated galvalume, which combined with the shades of Fluropon to provide depth and luster to the hangar that, according to architect Dan Bianco, “speaks to the progressive nature of the aviation industry.”

Valspar’s Fluropon coatings contain 70 percent PVDF resins, resulting in outstanding protection against dirt and staining as well as exceptional color consistency and retention. Fluropon also provides advanced resistance to ultraviolet rays, which helped secure LEED Platinum and ENERGY STAR^® certification for Hangar 25. All Valspar coatings used were ENERGY STAR^® certified and helped contribute to the building’s efficiency by reducing the amount of energy needed to cool the hangar.

The Bob Hope Airport Hangar 25 officially opened in fall 2008 to an audience of over 100 people, including then-Mayor of Los Angeles Antonio Villaraigosa. The hangar has set the standard for sustainable construction practices in the area, and continues to be a model of “green” success.

Bob Hope Airport, 2627 N Hollywood Way, Burbank, CA 91505; http://www.burbankairport.com/

•          Owners: Shangri-La Construction; Los Angeles, CA; http://shangrilaconstruction.com/; AVJET Corporation; Burbank, CA; http://www.avjet.com/avjet-worldwide/americas/
•          Coatings provider: The Valspar Corporation; Minneapolis; http://www.valsparcoilextrusion.com/
•          General contractor: Pinnacle Contracting; Brea, CA; http://www.pinnaclecontractinginc.com/
•          Architect: J.R. Miller and Associates; Burbank, CA; http://www.jrma.com/
•          Panel Supplier: Metal Sales Manufacturing Corporation; Fort Smith, AR; http://www.metalsales.us.com/
•          Installation:Shook Building Systems; Mira Loma, CA