When you think of Charleston, South Carolina, Boeing’s 787 Final Assembly Building probably isn’t the first thing to come to mind, but it is the first thing you see when you enter the Charleston International Airport. “[It was] the largest construction project on the East Coast at the time and the largest construction project ever in South Carolina,” said Senior Project Manager Steve McGrey of KBR Building Group, a division of BE&K.

The assembly building is a joint venture project between the BE&K Building Group, Turner Construction Company, and design partners BRPH Architects. The facility stands at 1.2 million sq. ft. and was built in just eighteen months. It needed to meet hurricane wind loads due to its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean. This task proved to be challenging for many systems, but UniQuad® proved to be the perfect fit. The UniQuad system worked with the architect’s design without forcing them to compromise their vision, and provided the ideal light levels based on the design of the doors, orientation of the building, the height of the windows, and other factors.

“[The UniQuad panels] were integrated into the 85 ft. tall hangar doors on either end,” said McGrey. “Timing was critical to door completion, which then allowed the start-up of the HVAC systems that were necessary for Boeing production tooling installations.”

The speedy installation of the panels allowed for production to begin six months ahead of schedule.
The economic impact of the plant was massive on the city of Charleston. Approximately $10 billion is injected back into the community annually as a result of the facility, with over 7,000 new jobs to help strengthen the city’s workforce. In the last four years, the Charleston workforce was boosted by
more than five percent, according to a recent economic study. Charleston is the first city to house a new Boeing aircraft assembly line outside of the Seattle, Washington base.

Located in the largest geographic school district in Iowa, Cascade High School needed to be renovated to provide much-needed square footage for its student body and staff. For many rural towns in the area, the school and its activities are the heartbeat of the community, and the goal was to reflect that in the school’s design. Featuring 6,590 sq. ft. of our UniQuad translucent wall system, the new exterior skin modernizes and unifies the building’s multiple additions, and has made the school a focal point worthy of its centrality in the community for its unique aesthetic. This project won the 2015 AIA Iowa Design Award and the 2016 AIA Central States Design Award.

The Fort Indiantown Gap, an active National Guard training center in Pennsylvania, needed a new Unit Training Equipment Site (UTES) facility for their stationed soldiers. The new facility was designed to offer soldiers assistance and maintenance support for the vehicles and weapons it houses. 26,540 sq. ft. of our UniQuad translucent wall system, specified in a clear glazing color, was incorporated into the facility’s design to provide ample daylight and ensure that daytime operations run effectively and smoothly with minimal use of artificial lighting.

7,780 sq. ft. of Quadwall translucent skylight system was incorporated into the renovation design for Allen High School in Texas. Renovated in 2015, the focus for the updated school was primarily on energy efficiency. Our system, specified in ice white matte and ice white glazing, allows for an abundance of natural uniform daylighting to diffuse into the space below, while minimizing glare and heat gain within the building.

Daylighting played an integral role in the design of the University of Oregon Student Recreation Center, and required a system that could dynamically control light levels in the space to ensure optimal performance. Another goal for the project was to reduce overall energy consumption from electrical lighting and HVAC systems while maintaining a high level of glare-free diffused light. Our IntelaSun system was chosen for its ability to effectively minimize solar heat gain and reduce the facility’s dependence on electrical lighting while being able to control the amount of light that entered the facility. It was designed with the end goal of educating, engaging, and inspiring the campus community to live sustainable and active lives. Due to the majority of the facility’s design being centered on sustainability, the building was awarded LEED Platinum status. It also won the 2016 NIRSA Outstanding Sports Facility award.

After only 15 years, the skylight at the Bogan Park Aquatic Center had completely degraded and discolored, resulting in a dark and grungy environment for the pool’s patrons. We successfully replaced 17,500 sq. ft. of the translucent fiberglass roof covering with our Quadwall system, as well as 2,490 sq. ft. of the vertical walls in the facility. This upgrade allowed for natural, uniform light to diffuse into the space while minimizing glare for those in the space below. Meticulous and concise coordination resulted in a 40% reduction in installation time, allowing the facility to remain in operation for a longer period of time than what was expected.

The UniQuad system was installed in The Pavilion at Ole Miss to illuminate the arena floor during games, concerts, and school performances. The system provides an abundance of natural light that diffuses throughout the facility from a 50 ft. elevation down to the stadium’s entrance and arena floor, while reducing both glare and the amount of energy required in the building.