Yesterday, PC Construction was recognized by the Construction Management Association of America’s New England Chapter with a Project Achievement Award for the BETA Technologies Manufacturing and Assembly Facility. The Project Achievement Awards highlight the “best of the best” projects that serve as an example in the construction industry and are true pinnacles of excellence and innovation.
This project, which was completed last year, is the planned Phase 1 of a two-phase master building plan on a 40-acre former brownfield site. The new, 188,500-square-foot high-bay facility, located directly adjacent to the Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport runways, includes aircraft manufacture and assembly space, office and employee spaces and support areas. Work included substantial site preparation, blasting and excavation, a parking lot and utility road, and a 2.7-acre geothermal field, which is one of the largest in New England.
To successfully complete a project of this complexity, PC needed to proactively support and address several key challenges for BETA – incompatible zoning regulation impacts, supply chain disruption, and the proximity to an operating airport. In addition, the project required creative problem-solving to maximize efficiency during construction. Despite the challenges, PC completed this project on a drastically accelerated timeline, delivering a fully functioning state-of-the-art manufacturing facility just 2.5 years after project kickoff, which included six months for early design packages and six months for permitting. PC poured the first piece of concrete in June 2022, and the owner started landing equipment on the manufacturing floor less than 12 months later!
I am so proud to have been a part of this important project for the State of Vermont, and for the incredible team who poured their heart and soul into the design and construction efforts. This was a truly collaborative project from the start and the resulting success is testament to that team effort.
Check out this video to learn more about the BETA Technologies S40 Aircraft Assembly Facility project.