The Elgin BAE Warehouse was strategically built to enhance military capabilities, collaborate with Fort Sill, and contribute to the local community. The Elgin facility is the final assembly location for the M109 Self-Propelled Howitzer family of vehicles. These howitzers play a vital role in artillery operations and military capability. This expansion increased the rate of final assembly, supporting current and future programs.
The addition to the existing warehouse is approximately 10,800 square-feet. The warehouse addition is a one-story, high-bay addition utilized for manufacturing and assembling parts for armored vehicles. The addition also included criteria for various testing requirements, which required innovative structural solutions, such as a vehicle water test pit to simulate crossing water hazards and a vehicle slope test structure to test terrain abilities. Modifications to the end bay of the existing warehouse included removal of existing beams and columns which were required to accommodate the warehouse expansion. Incorporating new foundations and framing adjacent to existing systems, while keeping the facility operational, was a project requirement and overcome by the project team. The structural system for the new warehouse is a pre-engineered metal building supported on a near surface bearing foundation system.
