Exterior Claddings

Gulfstream Building Takes Off with IMPs

First developed in 1958 while creating what is described as, “The world’s first purpose-built business aircraft,” Gulfstream has grown to become an international leader in business aviation. The aerospace engineering and manufacturing company has experienced rapid expansion year-after-year, so it was of little surprise when the burgeoning demand of Gulfstream products required an additional facility at their Savannah, Ga. location. To ensure the project’s build speed was up to pace—so that they could meet the overwhelming schedule demand, while at the same time maintaining energy efficiency—Kingspan Insulated Panels were chosen to help expedite the process.

It is important to note that everything Gulfstream does is based on speed. From the planes that they build, to the parts they deliver, to their Field and Airborne Support Teams (FAST) who offer international support. Being efficient time-wise is one of the pillars that their company was built on, so the choice to go with insulated metal panels that could match that state of urgency was crucial to the completion of this project. In order to make sure the job was completed quickly and properly, Yancey & Jamieson Inc. was brought in to manage the project.

Established in 1977, Yancey & Jamieson has supplied millions of square feet of insulated wall and roof panels for commercial and industrial building projects all across the Southeast. With that resume in hand, it was clear that Yancey & Jamieson knew what it would take to get this project off the ground.

They installed a single component panel system to help achieve a 50 percent faster on-site build time (when compared to the use of traditional built-up wall systems). And with it brought an immediate elimination of untimely delays that commonly come with having to coordinate multiple trades on one job site.

Another important factor was focusing on the idea that Gulfstream Building 6003 was set to make up 180,000 square feet of Gulfstream Savannah’s 679,199 square foot complex. This meant that building’s energy efficiency was every bit as important a consideration as the build speed of the project. Yancey & Jamieson selected 200 Inverted Rib wall panel system to help complete the project due to the polyisocyanurate core.

Having a polyisocyanurate core provided the building with superior R-Value performance of 7.2 per inch, and it will allow the Gulfstream Building 6003 to demonstrate superior levels of thermal performance and airtightness over the service life of the building. All of which should translate to an energy savings of up to 30 percent over time.

The other alternative to the multi-part wall system that was used for the project was the KarrierPanel barrier wall system. The product is an air, water, and vapor barrier, which spoke to the Gulfstream Building 6003’s need for energy efficiency. By creating a sustainable building envelope the insulated panels will help provide superior thermal performance while reducing the energy loss throughout the lifetime of the building. And thanks to its single component property, it was ready to be installed once it arrived on site, which helped the project to remain on schedule.

Just as the energy efficiency and build speed were both addressed, the final piece of the puzzle for this project was the building’s aesthetics. The Gulfstream Savannah facility is the central location for the Gulfstream worldwide headquarters—which is why looks were also a notable factor. Gulfstream specializes in luxury private jets, so it was vitally important that the design of their new hanger was consistent with the high-end, luxurious feel of the private jets they provide.

The 200 Inverted Rib panels were installed in both Regal White and Sandstone, which provided a base level of aesthetic appeal. For the building entrance they utilized the KarrierPanel system, consisting of an insulated metal panel and an integrated rail system, which allowed them to attach an exterior façade. The facades they chose were a custom designed and fabricated aluminum composite material (ACM) provided by Yancey & Jamieson. And to give the project a unique sense of style, “Gulfstream Blue” was the perfect color creation for the panels.

The project was a key part of a seven year expansion plan by the aerospace engineering and manufacturing company. It was not only an important project for the company’s growth, but with thousands of new jobs to be created through the course of the expansion, the project would also be vital to the Savannah community as well.

When speaking with the Savannah Morning News, Gulfstream’s Vice President of Real Estate and Facilities, Joe Drake, described how they came to the conclusion that, while they used to be a Savannah-based firm functioning nationally and internationally, they’re now a global firm that happens to be headquarters in Savannah. He went on to emphasize that Gulfstream is everywhere around the world and continues to grow exponentially.

Now, thanks to the ease of implementation of the insulated metal panels, the Gulfstream 6003 facility is set to be a flagship aircraft hanger for the international business-jet aircraft provider. And best of all, the energy-efficient and aesthetically pleasing design has now been created and can be quickly rolled out for the company’s next big expansion.