Kankakee Army Aviation Support Facility

Description

The Army National Guard Readiness Center and Army Aviation Support Facility (AASF) in Kankakee, Illinois, is among the largest projects undertaken by the Illinois National Guard.

The new 185,200 square foot, facility is home to two aviation battalions and a medivac unit and has earned the 2018 ENR Best of the Best project in the government/public building category.

The 73,050 square-foot Readiness Center building is designed to provide the versatility for the various needs of the facility's more than 200 soldiers, approximately 40 full-time employees, and 10 UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters. It includes flexible classrooms and conference rooms, offices, ground equipment maintenance, a weapons simulator, flight simulators, vaults, and a medical clinic.

In addition, the approximately 112,150 square-foot AASF includes maintenance hangars, shops, fight facilities, fuel distribution, a state-of-the-art fire suppression system and a cold storage hangar.

While the new facility's progressive architecture is an open tribute to those who use it, the backbone of the building is its sustainable design, led by its energy efficiency advancements. Sustainable technological solutions - including daylight harvesting, radiant heat flooring, and
an airtight building envelope were the key drivers in the design and construction of the Readiness Center and AASF. The building and systems design also meet the GSA's Anti-Terrorism Force Protection requirements.

Constructing an extensive daylight harvesting system required extensive communication between the designer, contractor and subcontractors. The entire south facade of glass and colored polycarbonate (PC) panels are installed to specifications. It allows the optimum amount of light infiltration while minimizing air conditioning energy use and increasing thermal performance.