Ruby+Associates, a structural engineering firm based in Farmington Hills, MI has been selected as a member of the Design/Build team for the construction of a new Helicopter Hangar at the Naval Air Station in Jacksonville, Florida.

Ruby will serve as the Structural Engineer of Record on the Walbridge Aldinger Design/Build team, which has been selected by the Naval Facilities Engineering Command to build a new helicopter hangar for the Naval Air Station – the fifth hangar for this team.  Ruby delivers unique hangar structural steel design expertise to the team, which will have a major impact on the final cost of the project, given the structure’s size, the needs of the helicopters to be serviced there and anticipated superstructure requirements.

“Structural steel is a large percentage of the construction cost for aircraft hangars – even more so than for other buildings,” notes Jay Ruby, PE, structural engineer for the project.  “Our designs emphasize efficient use of materials while meeting the long span load requirements inherent to hangar structures.”

This hangar will include five contiguous hangar modules, housing approximately 13 aircraft and 330 personnel in each module.  Because the Naval Air Station will remain active during construction, the team faces challenges imposed by limited construction and air space, as well as site restrictions imposed by former site uses.

Walbridge Aldinger will provide coordination for the project, and Barge Waggoner Sumner and Cannon will lead the overall design.

Specializing in structural steel, Ruby+Associates provides full-service structural engineering to the building design and construction industry. For more information, visit www.rubyusa.com or contact Tricia Huneke at 248.865.8855.