Modular Building Info

With safety and security at the forefront, prisons and military bases need observational guard towers to monitor what goes on from day to day. These towers contribute to securing the premises, and are essential to the overall protection of the property.

Porta-King, a St. Louis-based manufacturer of pre-engineered structures has recently completed work on several customized guard towers for several prisons and military bases.

Porta-King’s, PK Structures, customized towers have been utilized along the perimeter of prison grounds, and to monitor range practice and fighter pilot training at a number of military bases. Porta-King has also completed similar guard tower projects for the FBI and local police departments.

For each job, Porta-King was able to provide detailed drawings for approval and on-site review prior to the fabrications of the towers. This design consultation service and installation is available anywhere in the U.S.

According to Porta-King Vice President Gregg Pearlstone, every guard tower is custom designed to meet the exact application specifications.

Another advantage that Porta-King can offer customers is the supply of prefabricated steel or anodized aluminum buildings to shelter personnel and the equipment on top of the observation tower. “As one of the largest manufacturers of prefabricated guard booths, we can supply a turn-key guard tower project. We take complete responsibility for the fit and finish of the entire project,” Pearlstone said.

The experts at Porta-King have designed pre-engineered structures for decades, and are happy to create a customized design plan to meet any specifications. Unlike many competitors’ systems, Porta-King’s PK Structures guard towers utilize a “truly” prefabricated design. All clips and angles used to assemble our towers are welded onto the appropriate structural steel components at our factory. This greatly enhances the on-site assembly time when compared to other similar structures.

Porta-King’s guard towers are constructed utilizing all steel components and can be painted with a durable polyurethane acrylic paint or an optional galvanized steel finish to resist corrosion. The structures are designed in strict compliance with the 2006 International Building Code, and will meet wind and seismic requirements for the area they will be installed.

Porta-King has been a leader in custom-designed prefabricated construction solutions since 1969. In addition to a full line of guard towers, Porta-King manufactures a wide variety of modular buildings used for interior applications such as in-plant offices, break rooms, conference rooms, computer rooms, equipment enclosures. They also provide preassembled buildings for use as guard booths, parking booths, smoking shelters, turnstile shelters and countless other exterior applications. Porta-King’s pre-fabricated building systems provide shelter, storage and security solutions for virtually any working environment. For more information, visit the company on-line at www.portaking.com or call 800-284-5346.

In the wake of 9/11, U.S. airports identified the need to make significant changes not only to the way they conducted passenger screening and onsite security, but also to the way airports were designed and built.  Preassembled and modular structures became pivotal parts of the immediate redesign efforts, and remain so as airports now look at 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.  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.

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

Porta-King’s airport projects have implemented a wide 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.

Airport managers have put the safety of passengers, personnel and equipment at the top of their priority list. They’ve identified products like ours as both an immediate and long term solution for providing the necessary protection.

Porta-King has been a leader in custom-designed shelters since 1969.  In addition to exterior shelters, Porta-King manufactures pre-fabricated buildings, 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 www.portaking.com or call 800-284-5346. 

On a recent clean room project for a pharmaceutical manufacturer in Indiana, the customer wanted to use Porta-King’s Versa-King modular wall system, but they didn’t want to have the ledge at each window where dust could collect.  The standard arrangement on the Porta-King system has a flush-mounted window on one side, but the other side normally is inset from the wall surface by a couple of inches.  Porta-King custom designed a second pane with frame that permitted flush mounted window on both sides of the wall panels, eliminating the ledge where dust could collect.  Due to the customer’s stringent cleanliness requirements, both windows were sealed with silicone caulk all around, to assure that no dust could penetrate.  As a side note, this customer also required the use of FRP (fiberglass reinforced plastic) wall panel materials on both sides of the panel for durability and cleanability.  After three months use, the customer is very happy with the results, and has ordered additional areas built to the same specification.

ST. LOUIS, MO— From parking lots to government buildings to Fortune 500 companies, many industries use Porta-King’s Durasteel shelters to enclose their turnstiles and protect equipment from inclement weather.  Not only do these shelters protect sensitive equipment from the elements, but they also heighten security.
“Porta-King’s shelters protect sensitive keycard readers and access control equipment from the weather while adding an extra level of security at nearly any facility,” said Gregg Pearlstone, Vice President at Porta-King.  “These shelters can prevent trespassers from climbing turnstiles in order to gain access into secured areas.”
Many facilities install Durasteel shelters near their guard booths, allowing security personnel to constantly supervise people passing through secured areas.  During long security checkpoints, Durasteel shelters also protect employees and customers from the weather.  Since these shelters are shipped fully assembled, installation is quick and cost-efficient.  If clients require installation service, Porta-King offers a nationwide network of factory authorized contractors who can provide turn-key installation services.  All shelter models include an industrial grade acrylic enamel paint finish, bituminous coating on structural support tubes and anchoring plates, factory-installed roofs with gutters and standard glazing of 3/16” tempered safety glass.
Shelters are available in designs with two, three or four walls, and with flat or domed roofs.  Options for Porta-King shelters include interior and exterior lighting to improve nighttime visibility, polycarbonate or Plexiglas to prevent breakage and turnkey project design and installation.
Porta-King has been a leader in custom-designed shelters since 1969. In addition to its exterior shelters, Porta-King also manufacturers pre-fabricated buildings for guard booths and many other exterior applications. Porta-King also offers a full line of modular wall systems and enclosures including single and two-story designs, as well as structural steel mezzanines used for storage, production and elevated office space. Porta-King buildings provide shelter and storage solutions for virtually any working environment. For more information, visit www.portaking.com or call 800-284-5346.

Porta-King has Solutions for Congested Ports

Multi-purpose Buildings Increase Security and Maximize Limited Space
ST. LOUIS, MO— According to the American Association of Port Authorities, over the next 15 years the amount of cargo handled by U.S. ports will double to 4 billion tons per year, partly due to outsourcing. This challenges the maritime industry because ports are already understaffed and receive less than 10% funding from the Transportation Security Administration’s annual budget, despite the threat of maritime terrorism. As more employees and security equipment are needed, more buildings are required.
 

Although assembled buildings have been used at ports for a long time, their purposes keep expanding as they accommodate new security measures and technological equipment.
 

Gregg Pearlstone, Vice President at Porta-King, notes that assembled buildings are no longer just traditional guard booths but are complex and electronically-integrated building systems.
 

“At Porta-King, we are constructing buildings that serve as freestanding data centers, security and truck checkpoints and even kennels for guard dogs,” said Pearlstone.
 

According to Porta-King, many ports are adding state-of-the-art options to their buildings to make them more secure and technologically integrated. Popular features include bullet-proof construction, shelves and cabinets for security equipment, intercom systems, data ports, climate control, service sinks and dimming lights. Porta-King structures can also feature lighting packages for increased security and can include roll-down shutters for hurricane protection. Porta-King buildings can be made corrosion-resistant by using aluminum and special paint.
 

As maritime traffic becomes even more congested, Pearlstone believes that Porta-King buildings are ideal because of their mobility and effective space management.
 

“Since American ports are so busy and have limited space, Porta-King buildings are necessary because they can easily be moved around ports,” said Pearlstone.
Porta-King has been a leader in custom-designed, pre-assembled buildings since 1969. In addition to its exterior pre-assembled buildings, Porta-King offers a full line of modular implant offices in single or two-story designs, as well as structural steel mezzanines used for storage, production and elevated office space. Porta-King buildings provide shelter and storage solutions for virtually any working environment.