Photo courtesy Schweiss Doors
The Trenton-Mercer, N.J., base of Signature Aviation recently underwent a substantial renovation with the replacement of three hangar doors. Steel framing is an asset to aviation projects, and the durable material ensures that the newly installed doors will stand the test of time.
Signature Aviation is an aviation hospitality company with private terminals at airports across the globe. Its base at Trenton-Mercer includes two large hangars, where it became apparent the doors were unsafe.
Three bifold doors were installed to replace the existing doors, the largest measuring 30.3 m (99.3 ft) wide by 6.2 m (20.5 ft) high. The other two doors were twins, measuring 26.5 m (87 ft) wide by 7.8 m (25.6 ft) tall. All three doors operate with a liftstrap system that uses nylon straps instead of metal cables.
The goal of this project was to maximize the potential of the existing structure, allowing end users to focus their attention and budget on what they were after: a quality hangar door. Due to the size of the doors in this application, collaboration with an engineer ensured the existing hangars could accommodate new hangar doors. Minimal extra bracing was needed, considering the doors are much more substantial than the replaced ones.
