NASA Wallops HIF

Allen + Shariff provided MEP design services for the design and construction of this $9 million, 38,000 square foot, Horizontal Integration Facility for the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at NASA Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. More specifically, our team was brought on board to take over the design of the mechanical system for the high bay area. The design included six, 12.5 ton water source heat pumps, a dedicated 6200 cfm outside air ventilation unit, humidifiers and full under floor radiant heat system.

The new facility, which provides transportation, processing, and launching of medium large class suborbital and orbital Expandable Launch Vehicles, was constructed as a pre-engineered Metal Building on a pile supported concrete foundation with floors rated at 250 PSF. It consisted of a 60 foot (Eave height) High Bay Area with approximately 245 x 90 feet of interior floor space. The High Bays have three doors standing 25 feet wide and over 45 feet high. The operations in the High Bays were supported by two bridge cranes spanning the 90 width with 45 Hook Heights. Lifting capacities of the Critical Lift cranes are rated for 25-Tons and 70-Tons capacity.

Support Systems included Fire Protection and Blast Protection Systems, Lightning Protection, Humidity and Temperature Control Systems, Compressed Air, Special Electric Power Systems, Explosion Proof Devices and Sniffers. Access ramps were provided to transport the vehicles into the elevated floor spaces and the High Bay Integration Area is supported by approx. 14,000 square feet of crew support space that included areas for warehouse storage, battery storage, lab space, restrooms, a break room, communications, and mechanical & electrical rooms.

Project Details

Client: The Cube Corporation

Square Footage: 38,000

Services: MEP Engineering

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