Modular Building Info

Preassembled and Modular Structures Provide Improved Parking Control in Atlanta
Hartsfield International Airport benefits from building retrofit provided by Porta-King at significant savings

May 21, 2008: ST. LOUIS, MO – For decades, Porta-King has supplied and prefabricated anodized aluminum buildings to the largest international airports in the United States. Recently, Porta-King completed a significant project at Hartsfield International Airport in Atlanta, GA to retrofit parking facilities as a part of a new revenue control program.

Some two years ago, airport officials purchased prefabricated buildings from Porta-King. Based on the airport’s new approach to parking revenue control, airport officials either needed to replace or retrofit 16 buildings in order to upgrade and install special electronic housing. Thanks to Porta-King’s pre-fab construction, they were able to remove the original structures from the airport premise and ship the units to St. Louis for off-site retrofitting in order to upgrade and comply with the airport’s current methodology and framework.

According to Gregg Pearlstone, Porta-King vice president, preassembled and modular structures have become pivotal parts of these redesign efforts, and remain in the forefront as airports continue to review plans for long-term expansion and remodeling design. The biggest reason is simple — versatility.

“Traditional construction is centered on creating something permanent that will be fixed in one orientation, in one location until it is torn down,” Pearlstone said. “Modular and pre-assembled buildings are attractive to airports because they can be moved as their use or the design footprint of the airport changes.”

In the case of Hartsfield International, Pearlstone indicated that Porta-King was able to retrofit parking cashier buildings at a savings of $150,000-$200,000. “In addition,” he said, “we shipped four buildings that could be used on campus for mobile security posts. Plus, we designed an interior garage office that is currently being used for valet parking, along with a taxi starter booth used by management staff governing taxi cab drivers in queue at the terminal site.

Pearlstone’s company Porta-King is one of the nation’s leading providers of prefabricated building solutions for airports. The company has also managed building solutions for international airports like O’Hare in Chicago and JFK in New York, as well as smaller regional airports nationwide.

Porta-King’s airport projects have resulted in the implementation of a variety of their prefabricated building products. These structures are used for a wide range of applications including: parking revenue control, security, airport shuttle shelters, outdoor smoking shelters, rental car agency offices, garage offices, baggage screening shelters, pay and display shelters, ticket kiosks and office partitions.

“For good reason, airport managers have placed the safety of passengers, personnel and equipment at the top of their priority list,” Pearlstone said. “And they’ve identified products like ours as both an immediate and long-term solution for providing the necessary protection and flexibility required in today’s airport environment.”

Porta-King has been a leader in providing modular solutions for airports and other industries since 1969. In addition to prefabricated buildings and shelters, Porta-King manufactures custom-designed shelters, a full line of modular wall systems and enclosures and structural mezzanines. Porta-King buildings provide shelter and storage solutions for virtually any working environment. For more information, visit the company online at www.portaking.com or call 800-284-5346.

The Company
FBO Air is a company that sells and repairs aircraft for individual and corporate clients. They operate out of a hangar at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport in Avoca, Pennsylvania.

The Problem
The traditionally built office area the company was using in the hangar was in disrepair and out of date, taking up too much square footage and providing too little usable space. It also wasn’t providing the professional atmosphere that their customers expected when they visited FBO Air for a purchase or repair. The entire hangar was in need of an update, so the company made the decision to remodel at the request of the company’s President.

How Porta-King Helped
A big goal of the remodeling process was to determine an efficient solution that provided usable, professional office space, without taking up too much room in the hangar. They priced traditional and modular options and decided Porta-King provided the best option and the most efficient installation process. So they chose to build modular with Porta-King.

Porta-King proposed and built a mezzanine with modular office space on the upper level, and a partially enclosed modular area below. The idea was to provide a professional place for business, as well as a usable space for the mechanics. The upper level of the structure was fitted with FAA office room, management offices and a parts room. Each room has individual heating and air conditioning controls. Carpet and shelving was installed in each. The area left unenclosed on the bottom level was used for tool storage and work space.

Everyone involved was happy with the result, and the president of FBO Air was brought in to review the project. He was thrilled with the product, the price and the speed in which it was installed. The project was finished in the third week of January ’07 and FBO Air has received numerous compliments and inquiries about their modular construction solution from customers and others who have come through and noticed the new space.

The Results
Professionalism – FBO Air has a professional appearance and presence inside their facility to support the image that their customers hold for the company.

Versatility – A big reason the company decided to go with Porta-King is the versatility of the product. Modular building products can be easily uninstalled and moved to accommodate any necessary changes in the future.

Cost-Effective Solution – FBO Air certainly saved both time and money in choosing to implement Porta-King’s modular solution. But because modular buildings are legally considered equipment rather than real estate, the purchase can also be depreciated off the books and save them tax revenue.