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Oklahoma City, OK – Larson Design Group (LDG) recently celebrated a major milestone at Tinker Air Force Base with the groundbreaking of the Bomber Agile Common Hangar (BACH), a mission-critical facility designed to support depot maintenance for the U.S. Air Force’s B-52 and B-21 bomber aircraft.
LDG joined project partners Mason & Hanger and Mead & Hunt to mark the start of construction on the 196,791-square-foot high-bay depot maintenance hangar. LDG led the architectural and mechanical engineering efforts and provided electrical engineering expertise as part of the project team.
Designed with flexibility and adaptability at its core, the first-of-its-kind prototype will accommodate up to four large bombers and multiple airframe types while supporting the U.S. Air Force’s evolving maintenance and operational needs. Key components of the facility include:
- A 139,256-square-foot hangar bay designed to accommodate multiple aircraft and maintenance configurations
- A 16,381-square-foot, one-story shop area supporting maintenance functions on the north side of the facility
- A 41,154-square-foot, two-story shop and administrative area providing operational and support spaces on the south side
- Flexible maintenance docks designed to support multiple airframe types
- Specialized lifting equipment, including a five-ton bridge crane, four two-ton roof-supported monorail hoists, and a two-ton bridge crane in the Landing Gear Shop
- A FEMA storm shelter incorporated into the shop and administrative space
The design uses a pre-engineered metal building system and construction strategies intended to support efficient enclosure and construction. Segmental hangar bay units also provide adaptability, allowing hangar space to be added or reduced without affecting administrative and maintenance functions.
The BACH prototype represents an important advancement in adaptable aircraft maintenance infrastructure. Its flexible design is intended to support both current and future airframes while providing a model that can be adapted for temporary or permanent construction applications.
“This groundbreaking is an exciting milestone for a truly unique project,” said Rick Siler, Federal Architecture & Engineering Operations Manager & Vice President. “The BACH was designed around flexibility, efficiency, and the evolving mission needs of the U.S. Air Force. Seeing this first-of-its-kind prototype move from design into construction is incredibly rewarding, and we’re proud of the expertise and collaboration our team has contributed alongside Mason & Hanger, Mead & Hunt, and our project stakeholders.”
To commemorate the milestone, LDG created and presented custom Challenge Coins to project stakeholders, recognizing the collaboration and contributions that helped advance the project from design to construction.
“We extend our sincere thanks to Mason & Hanger, Mead & Hunt, Tinker Air Force Base, the U.S. Air Force and the entire project team for their partnership and collaboration,” said Rick Siler. “We’re proud to have played a role in bringing this mission-critical facility to life and supporting infrastructure designed to adapt to the Air Force’s evolving needs.”
RELATED: Federal
We look forward to seeing the Bomber Agile Common Hangar take shape at Tinker Air Force Base and to the important role it will play in supporting aircraft readiness for years to come.
ABOUT LDG
Founded in 1986, LDG is an award-winning, employee-owned architecture, engineering, and consulting firm offering full-service capabilities and a national reach. For 40 years, we have been providing an extraordinary breadth and depth of value-driven solutions to our diverse client base and investing in the sustainable business practices and innovative technologies that allow us to pursue our shared vision: creatively shaping our world. For more information, visit About – Larson Design Group.