Wood Harbinger, Inc., of Bellevue, has won a national Gold award for their building/technology systems work on the Aeroman Aircraft Maintenance Facility in El Salvador.

The award was presented by the Washington chapter of the American Council of Engineering Companies, whose office is also in Bellevue, at the 41st annual awards ceremony on Jan. 16.

When developing mechanical, electrical and fire protection engineering for the 118,000-square-foot Aeroman Aircraft Maintenance Facility in El Salvador, Wood Harbinger specified a translucent membrane material for the hanger roof that transmits abundant natural lighting, eliminating the need for electrical lighting during daytime operations. In addition, the membrane roof operates approximately 30 degrees F cooler than a conventional roof system.

For nighttime operations, Wood Harbinger designed a precision gallery of light fixtures strategically directed at critical points in the hangar. This system created optimum light levels for aviation maintenance, while consuming 30 percent less energy than traditional overhead grid lighting systems.

Another element of the team’s design included a production line that pulses the aircraft from the back to the front of the hangar bay as major maintenance milestones are completed.