Our Challenge
The Tāwhaki National Aerospace Centre required a new 600m² aircraft hangar with a 30-metre clear span with no internal supports. The project demanded high structural performance comparable to steel while meeting stringent sustainability objectives and aesthetic requirements for this high-profile aerospace facility. Critical design parameters included load-bearing capacity for aircraft storage, fire performance compliance, integration with the site's environmental zoning requirements and respect for the whānau-led, land-based design context.

The Techlam Solution
Techlam supplied prefabricated glulam portal frames featuring CNC-machined 15-metre portal beams engineered to create the required 30-metre clear span. The solution incorporated bespoke connection hardware and specialised timber connectors designed for the high-load aerospace application. All components were precision-manufactured off-site and delivered pre-cut, pre-finished and ready for assembly, ensuring tight tolerances and minimising on-site construction complexity. The glulam specification provided comparable load-bearing performance to steel while delivering predictable fire charring rates and enhanced acoustic properties suitable for the aviation environment.