During the late 1990s, a changed mission and substantial growth at the Helena Aviation Readiness Center, required a renovation and addition of the relatively new facility. The new Aviation Readiness Center included a 40,000 square-foot overhaul and a 60,000 square-foot addition to what was originally designed as an Attack Battalion Armory. The project included more than eight acres of site improvements and six additional buildings.
Tim Meldrum, AIA, LEED AP, NCARB, principal/owner at SMA Architects of Helena, Mont., says larger federally funded military projects are required to meet at least LEED Silver certification. The Helena Aviation Readiness Center achieved Gold status, with some help from the Envelope 2000 composite wall panel from Citadel Architectural Products.