The Western Specialty Contractors – Sheet Metal Division in Kansas City, Missouri, recently replaced leaking, improperly installed wall panels and flashings covering the control tower at Offutt Air Force Base in Omaha, Nebraska.
Historic Offutt AFB is the headquarters for the U.S. Strategic Command, 557th Weather Wing and 55th Wing, the largest wing of the United States Air Force’s Air Combat Command. With its history dating back to 1894, Offutt AFB has played an important role throughout U.S. history, including hosting one of the first major strategy sessions by President George W. Bush in response to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
With so many important military aircraft flying in and out of Offutt daily, it’s imperative that its airfield and control tower function properly at all times.
Western Specialty Contractors was contracted to replace leaking freezer panels and associated flashing on the envelope of the base’s control tower which resulted from improper installation when the structure was built nearly 30 years ago.
Western’s sheet metal experts worked with project general contractor HHI Corp. to estimate/bid the job and design and fabricate a new Dri-Design wall panel system and associated flashings. Dri-Design is a 100% recyclable, pressure-equalized rain-screen architectural metal wall system that attaches to nearly any substrate without the use of clips or extrusions. Its interlocking design makes installation quick and easy, plus it comes in a variety of colors, materials, textures and custom perforations.
Western was able to install the control tower’s new metal panel system within a month and on budget. The architect on the project was Kenneth Hahn Architects.
