By AZRE | AZ Big Media
Willmeng Construction Inc., a Phoenix-based commercial general contractor, hosted a tilting ceremony on Nov. 2, celebrating the successful lift of the heaviest concrete tilt panels in the nation and the eighth tallest in North and South America, weighing in at more than 500,000 pounds at the Northrop Grumman satellite manufacturing facility in Gilbert, Ariz.
“The logistics, scheduling, pre-planning and execution of this project for Northrop Grumman is one of complexity and requires an entire team effort to deliver concrete panels like very few have seen before,” said James Murphy, Willmeng CEO. “The collaboration among Suntec, Gensler and the client will result in a state-of-the-art facility equipped to meet Northrop Grumman’s needs in Gilbert.”
Marking a major milestone for the use of concrete tilt panels in the construction at the facility, the first, and heaviest concrete panel lifted weighs approximately 504,000 pounds, and stands at 87 feet, 7 inches tall, officially breaking the previous record of 369,600 pounds also set in Phoenix two years ago. Designed by Gensler, Phoenix, this expansion will maximize space to allow for nearly double the production capacity of the existing facility.
