As part of Kelowna Airport’s expansion to better accommodate the needs of the growing region, a new Operations and Emergency Services Building (OESB) was built to serve as the centre for logistics and emergency operations at the airport.
The new building will streamline airport operations by consolidating programs that are currently spread across multiple buildings. It was designed to be a hub for all airport operations specialists, firefighters, mechanics, management and the associated equipment used to provide emergency and maintenance services at the airport. On the upper floor of the building there are offices, training spaces, and staff amenities. Below are drive-through bays to improve safety and emergency response times.
The building structure comprises a steel frame and metal deck floor structure. Braced bays provide lateral stability in one direction, whilst moment frames provide stability in the other direction, allowing for un-interrupted drive through programming at the ground floor level. The second floor cantilevers out to the east and west, providing generous sight lines to much of the airport, and expanding on the available footprint.
While out of sight for passengers, this building is a key part of the airport operations and plays a vital role in ensuring safe and efficient travel.
