Hangar 25 at Bob Hope Airport wins environmental award

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Hangar 25 at Bob Hope Airport in Burbank has a solar-powered roof system that runs all electric vehicles and office operations; plumbing fixtures that require little water; and landscaping featuring native desert plants. Its furnishings emit few toxins, and its concrete floor doesn’t need regular maintenance.

And now the building, the world’s first aviation facility to be granted LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum certification, has an award to go with its slew of green features.

The hangar recently won the Environment Management Award from the Airports Council International-North America. The group, which represents aviation businesses and airport owners in the United States and Canada, also recognized airports in Texas, Nevada and Toronto for its 2009 Environmental Achievement Awards.

Judges included representatives from the Cargo Airline Assn. and the Federal Aviation Administration.

Hangar 25 was built by sustainable construction company Shangri-La Construction in Los Angeles with private aviation company Avjet Corp. The 62,000-square-foot building was designed to offset the carbon emissions from aircraft by using alternative energy to power itself.

The photovoltaic panels can power a plane that’s on the ground and can operate forklifts and tow vehicles, The Times reported in December.

Earlier this month, the hanger was the site of the emotional return of journalists Euna Lee and Laura Ling after they were imprisoned in North Korea.

--Tiffany Hsu