When a building plan includes a hangar door nearly 100 feet wide, communication is essential to ensure every piece comes together as planned. Despite several design changes leading up to construction, an 11,000-square-foot private hangar at Drake Field in Fayetteville, Ark., was successfully completed through close coordination among general contractor First Star Construction, architect Burris Architecture, building manufacturer Wilshar Steel, Schweiss Doors and the client.
“It was a very collaborative process,” says Eric Predmore, Director of Construction at First Star Construction.
From the beginning, Schweiss Doors was the recommended hangar door manufacturer, although the type of door changed as the design progressed. The preliminary plan called for a liftstrap bifold hangar door. After additional discussions between the architect and client, however, the team decided on a one-piece hydraulic door from Schweiss.
A 96-foot wide by 28-foot high Schweiss Doors hydraulic door opens the entire end wall of a private hangar at Drake Field in Fayetteville, Ark.
In the early design stages of the project a bifold door was part of the specifications. However, the owner decided to go with the Schweiss hydraulic option. First Star Construction, the general contractor, was able to work with the building manufacturer, Wilshar Steel, and Schweiss Doors to make sure the building would be able to handle the large door.
The decision was made to use a hydraulic door for the hangar because the owner wanted the inside of the hangar to have a bright and orderly interior.
From the beginning, Schweiss Doors was the recommended hangar door manufacturer, although the type of door changed as the design progressed. The preliminary plan called for a liftstrap bifold hangar door. After additional discussions between the architect and client, however, the team decided on a one-piece hydraulic door from Schweiss.
“They wanted to have a nice clean look on the interior of the door,” Predmore says. “They also liked the big built-in awning you get with a one-piece hydraulic door.”
The hydraulic door measures an impressive 96 feet wide by 28 feet, 2 inches high. Changing from a bifold to a hydraulic door required modifications to the building specifications, but because the details were addressed during preconstruction, the necessary changes were made before either the building or door was manufactured.
“Working back and forth with engineers from Wilshar Steel and Schweiss Doors, we were able to make the structure capable of handling the hydraulic door,” Predmore says.
At 96 feet wide, the hydraulic door was the largest Predmore had ever worked with. First Star hired a qualified door contractor to handle the installation, and Schweiss assisted by recommending contractors experienced with installing and servicing its doors.
“The installation was good, it was smooth,” Predmore says. “We worked with Schweiss Doors to get some recommendations on installers, so that collaboration was helpful.”
From start to finish, Predmore says his first project with Schweiss Doors went well. He was impressed not only with the quality of the door, but also with the company’s responsiveness whenever questions arose in the field.
“The most important thing of all was Schweiss Doors’ collaboration,” Predmore says. “They were not just selling a door kit. The installer and site superintendent were able to call up a couple of times and talk to the Schweiss Doors engineering and tech support teams and get answers to questions. That was invaluable.”
The completed hangar has made an impression on those who have seen it. In addition to its expansive, open aircraft space, the building includes a second-story mezzanine with a lounge and balcony. The lounge features a kitchen, bathroom and comfortable space where pilots can relax between flights.
The project has attracted enough attention that Predmore says First Star Construction has already been approached by others interested in building similar hangars—including projects incorporating Schweiss doors.
“Schweiss Doors will be our preferred vendor partner on future projects requiring doors of this type,” Predmore says.
Project Team
General Contractor: First Star Construction, Farmington, Ark.
Archtiect: Burris Architecture, Bentonville, Ark.
Building Manufacturer: Wilshar Steel, Lowell, Ark.
About Schweiss Doors
Schweiss Doors is the premier manufacturer of hydraulic and bifold liftstrap doors. For more information, visit www.bifold.com.
