The joint venture of H. J. High Construction/Batson-Cook Company recently broke ground on the construction of a Balance Bunker at Mitsubishi Power Systems Americas (MPSA) Savannah Machinery Works project.
The structure is the fourth project on the campus to be built by the team.
The stand-alone Balance Bunker will bring the latest in product testing technology to the Savannah Machinery Works.
The facility, a modification of similar facilities used by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Inc. (MHI) in Japan, was designed by a joint design team of engineers and architects from The Austin Company of Cleveland, Ohio, MPSA and MHI.
The chamber will be contained within a single-story precast and insulated metal panel building, conventionally framed with steel columns, beams and joists. The chamber is constructed of seven feet of reinforced concrete walls lined with inner and outer steel that will be capable of withstanding nearly zero atmosphere under vacuum. The structure will be connected with the main manufacturing facility by a rail line, also built by High / Batson-Cook.
The project, which broke ground in August, is scheduled to be completed in November 2012.
Also announced, the third phase of the MPSA Savannah Machinery Works construction project was awarded to the joint venture of H.J. High Construction/Batson-Cook.
The team, which built the initial two phases of the facility, will erect a $16 million, 74,000-sf manufacturing bay for the new facility in Pooler, Ga.
The new project, Bay 4, will be home to the gas turbine and steam turbine assembly activities. H.J. High and Batson-Cook will install a crane system to aid in the compilation of its product.
In addition, 400 feet of railroad track will be constructed inside the facility. The track will connect to a new spur, built in Phase II of the project, linking the Savannah Machinery Works to the Port of Savannah. This phase is expected to complete in March of 2012. BD+C
Related Stories
| Feb 15, 2011
Iconic TWA terminal may reopen as a boutique hotel
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey hopes to squeeze a hotel with about 150 rooms in the space between the old TWA terminal and the new JetBlue building. The old TWA terminal would serve as an entry to the hotel and hotel lobby, which would also contain restaurants and shops.
| Feb 15, 2011
New Orleans' rebuilt public housing architecture gets mixed reviews
The architecture of New Orleans’ new public housing is awash with optimism about how urban-design will improve residents' lives—but the changes are based on the idealism of an earlier era that’s being erased and revised.
| Feb 15, 2011
LAUSD commissions innovative prefab prototypes for future building
The LA Unified School District, under the leadership of a new facilities director, reversed course regarding prototypes for its new schools and engaged architects to create compelling kit-of-parts schemes that are largely prefabricated.
| Feb 15, 2011
New 2030 Challenge to include carbon footprint of building materials and products
Architecture 2030 has just broadened the scope of its 2030 Challenge, issuing an additional challenge regarding the climate impact of building products. The 2030 Challenge for Products aims to reduce the embodied carbon (meaning the carbon emissions equivalent) of building products 50% by 2030.
| Feb 15, 2011
New Urbanist Andrés Duany: We need a LEED Brown rating
Andrés Duany advocates a "LEED Brown" rating that would give contractors credit for using traditional but low cost measures that are not easy to quantify or certify. He described these steps as "the original green," and "what we did when we didn't have money." Ostensibly, LEED Brown would be in addition to the current Silver, Gold and Platinum ratings.
| Feb 15, 2011
AIA on President Obama's proposed $1 billion investment in energy conservation
The President’s budget increases the value of investment in energy conservation in commercial buildings by roughly $1 billion, reports AIA 2011 President Clark Manus, FAIA. The significant increase from the current tax deduction of $1.80 per sq. ft. now on the books is an increase for which the AIA has been advocating in order to encourage energy conservation.
| Feb 14, 2011
Sustainable Roofing: A Whole-Building Approach
According to sustainability experts, the first step toward designing an energy-efficient roofing system is to see roof materials and systems as an integral component of the enclosure and the building as a whole. Earn 1.0 AIA/CES learning units by studying this article and successfully completing the online exam.
| Feb 11, 2011
Four Products That Stand Up to Hurricanes
What do a panelized wall system, a newly developed roof hatch, spray polyurethane foam, and a custom-made curtain wall have in common? They’ve been extensively researched and tested for their ability to take abuse from the likes of Hurricane Katrina.