New Business Unit Launches With LEED Platinum Project

Shangri-La Industries introduced its newly formed business unit, Shangri-La Construction, at the unveiling of its inaugural project: the world’s first aviation hangar to achieve LEED Platinum certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. The facility—Hangar 25—is located at the Bob Hope Airport in Burbank, CA.

Shangri-La Industries is a diversified firm focused on integrating environmentally conscious development, sustainable construction, and green technology to create the next generation of business solutions. Steve Bing, a longtime businessman and environmental advocate, is the founder of Shangri-La Industries. As a property owner, Bing recognized that reducing energy consumption would not only yield environmental benefits, but also generate significant cost savings. He was a major donor behind the Natural Resources Defense Council’s LEED Platinum-certified building in Santa Monica, CA and has also been involved in the Make It Right Foundation, Brad Pitt’s green housing project in New Orleans’s Lower Ninth Ward.

Hangar 25 in Burbank, CA has been certified LEED Platinum.
Hangar 25 in Burbank, CA has been certified LEED Platinum.

Beyond aviation, Shangri-La is working with clients to retrofit commercial office space with energy- and cost-efficient upgrades.

“Our company focuses on corporate and institutional clients who want to lower their carbon impact, fight rising energy costs and stabilize economic uncertainties through cost-effective sustainable development,” said Andy Meyers, president, Shangri-La Construction. “Hangar 25 represents the future of the commercial building industry as it demonstrates the financial viability of environmentally friendly construction. We prove that businesses can go green without sacrificing their balance sheets or high design standards.”

“The ability to build and deliver a LEED Platinum certified aviation hangar, an industry first, without a significant cost increase over a traditionally built hangar is a result of the Shangri-La team’s highly focused proprietary approach,” commented John Picard, founder of John Picard & Associates, LLC and a senior advisor at Shangri-La. “This project is proof that the bottom line in green construction is black. Companies can reduce their carbon footprint while maximizing short-term and long-term cost savings.”

Avjet Corporation, the operating partner of Hangar 25 and a full-service global aviation company, is pleased to be working with the Shangri-La team on this ground-breaking endeavor. “Given the volatility of fuel prices, the aviation industry must develop and implement practical solutions,” said Marc Foulkrod, CEO, Avjet Corporation. “Hangar 25 tackles the major cost and carbon challenges related to the aviation industry’s ground operations, from reducing jet fuel to diminishing operational electricity usage. This improves efficiency and addresses the environmental demands of our customers.”

Hangar 25’s key sustainable design features include:

  • Solar array that produces 110% of the building’s operational electricity needs
  • Electric tow and other vehicles powered by the solar array instead of diesel
  • Daylight harvesting through strategic design including a diamond-polished concrete floor that reflects light
  • Diamond-polished concrete floor does not use toxic sealants that require regular reapplication and maintenance
  • A water-based hi-fog fire suppression system that eliminates toxic and ozone depleting chemicals that require storage infrastructure, regular replacement, and, if deployed, damage aircraft and require haz-mat cleanup
  • Oversized overhead fans and evaporative coolers employed to eliminate need for refrigerant-based cooling that increases thermal comfort by 10 – 20 degrees
  • Plumbing that reduces water use by 60% through low flush, low flow and waterless fixtures to reduce the burden on city water supply and wastewater systems
  • Sustainable landscaping including the use of drought-tolerant native plants and a no-mow, no-water synthetic lawn

(Photo courtesy of Shangri-La Construction)