About B. Coleman Aviation
B. Coleman Aviation’s fixed base operations (FBO) at the Gary International Airport cater to executive-level clients from all over the world by offering services such as private aircraft handling, charter services and aircraft management. Their state-of-the-art facility features more than 25,000 square feet of terminal and hangar space and a 12,500-square-foot air side canopy large enough to provide year-round shelter for a Gulfstream V or a Bombardier Global Express aircraft.
Just 25 minutes from downtown Chicago, B. Coleman’s FBO is the perfect alternative for the executive-class traveler looking to avoid the overcrowding and delays that mar Chicago’s major airports.
B. Coleman clients receive exceptional support and expertise each and every time they arrive. The hospitality facilities, which include luxurious corporate meeting rooms, deluxe office space, a pilot’s lounge, a quiet room and a flight planning office, offer concierge-level service in all areas of the FBO spectrum.
The comfort and safety of B. Coleman clients utilizing the hospitality space is of the utmost importance and depends on several factors including proper management of solar light, electrical light and solar heat coming through the exterior windows.
In the conference rooms and flight planning rooms, meeting holders need to manage light levels for video presentations. In the quiet room and pilot’s lounge, pilots need to manage light levels during FAA-required rest periods that ensure passenger safety. Meanwhile, all parties should expect consistent heat levels throughout the facility during their stay.
The Solar Control Challenge
The challenge facing B. Coleman was that the base is located in the middle of an airfield and prominent eastern/western exposures produce very high levels of heat and glare transmission through the exterior windows. Even at night, bright lights from the hanger
spill over into the hospitality space through the exterior windows.
B. Coleman needed a solar shading system that would help create an environment for their clients that was indicative of their commitment to excellence and passion for service.
Products Used
Control:
– All the individual shades were on clutch rollers with 24 lbs. of lift
– All dual shades utilized a specialized CS clutch system.
– All clutch rollers used #10 stainless steel bead chain
Fabric:
– All woven mesh used in the project was Mermet E Screen (E 7505) 5% openness in white/pearl #0207
– All room-darkening fabric was Mermet Avila in Pearl #0007
Fascia:
– All fascia made from anodized aluminum
IWS Solutions
Illinois Window Shade Company, in a collaboration with Lora Norr Designs and Burling Builders, designed a solar shade system that successfully manages the solar and visual light transmittance at the B. Coleman Aviation base. The IWS solution specifically addresses B. Coleman’s needs by providing a versatile shade system that promotes a comfortable and energy efficient environment.
A total of seven IWS dual clutch operated shade systems were placed in exterior windows in the quiet room, conference rooms, pilot’s lounge shade-benefits-callout-for-weband flight planning office. These dual shade systems offer a blackout shade and a woven mesh shade housed on combined brackets that IWS expertly and seamlessly concealed by 7“ anodized aluminum fascias.
The blackout shade (Fabric: Mermet Avila Twilight, Pearl) successfully blocks all solar and visible light transmittance, providing a perfect environment for clients seeking rest or those holding meetings with audiovisual equipment.
The woven mesh shade (Fabric: Mermet E Screen, White/Pearl, 5% openness) thoroughly reflects solar heat, allowing internal building controls to more efficiently regulate temperature levels throughout the facility. The shade allows a high level of daylight into the room, reducing dependence on electrical light.
The dual shades were used in combination with 12 individual woven mesh shades (Mermet E Screen White/Pearl with 5% openness) designed to manage solar heat and light transmittance throughout the first floor of the facility.
Additionally, three IWS privacy woven mesh shades (Mermet E Screen White/Pearl with 5% openness) conference room interior windows. All shades were clutch operated and concealed with 4” anodized aluminum fascias.
Results
The solar shade solution at the B. Coleman Aviation Center looks fantastic, is easy for staff and guests to operate and produces measurable results with respect to the light and heat levels in the facility.
The dual shades offer two fabric options: one fabric effectively reflects solar heat gain while maximizing available natural light and reducing dependence on artificial light. The alternate fabric blocks all solar transmission for increased levels of privacy and appropriate levels of light for use of electronic visual displays (i.e. TVs, computer monitors, etc.)
The manual clutch operation offers a simple, smooth means to control the shade.
The hospitality industry and architects across the country are working to design sustainable solutions that reduce facility construction and operating costs while enhancing guest safety and comfort. The proper window shade addresses these challenges in a cost effective and practical manner. Well-designed motorized and manual shading solutions not only save energy and money, but also optimize natural light.
As a nationwide leader in window treatments, Illinois Window Shade Company provides the most effective solar shade solutions available.
