With its latest architectural project Avia Solutions Group ‘landed’ a real jet inside an office building, becoming the first one in the world to do so, according to the architecture company that carried out the project.
The office building with an actual aircraft in the middle of it is being constructed in Vilnius, Lithuania, and will open its doors at the end of the year. It is part of the company’s AeroCity ‒ a cluster of aviation companies, which will be bringing together aviation professionals, enthusiasts, and the public.
“This building is a grand and unique project. The eight floor construction is cube-shaped, with a large atrium in the center of the building,” comment Jonas Janukenas, CEO of Avia Solutions Group. “Offices are designed around the perimeter of the atrium, making the first floor a ‘square under a roof’. It will be a spacious, light, 8-meter tall area with glass walls and minimal structures. But the most unique feature of this architectural project is a Bombardier CRJ 200 business jet that has already ‘landed’ on the first floor of the building.”
Preparing the Bombardier CRJ200 for the new life
The Bombardier CRJ200 was prepared for the new life by JET MS engineers and mechanics teams. According to the business and regional aircraft MRO, the project required months of preparations, as well as deep knowledge and precision.
Valuable parts of the dismantled aircraft that could still be reused or repurposed were removed, leaving behind a fuselage that “landed” in the Avia Solutions Group building. According to JET MS, nearly 100% of the CRJ200 aircraft is re-used, reaching one of the highest aircraft recycled percentages in the industry.
“This project shows the possibilities of sustainability in the MRO sector. We are excited to achieve a nearly 100% recycling rate and to lead the industry towards more sustainable and environmentally friendly operations,” commented JET MS Chief Executive Officer Vytis Zalimas.
Challenges of landing a plane in a building
As one might suspect, “landing” a business jet inside a building was no easy task, as explained by Justas Baltaduonis, Head of Construction Management at VA Reals, a real estate management company involved in the project.
“One of the main challenges our team faced was deciding how to go about the project. The first option, easier to implement, was to build flooring, transport the aircraft to the area, and then to raise the building walls. But it would have created some additional dangers – accidents happen and the jet could be damaged during the construction process. We could not allow this to happen,” according to Baltaduonis.
Furthermore, additional security procedures would need to be put in place for an extended period to safeguard the aircraft from outside threats. So this option was not viable.”
“The second option, while being more difficult and expensive to realize, was a more secure choice. It was decided that the Bombardier CRJ 200 jet will be lowered through the opening in the roof using cranes. A huge team has been working on this part of the project for months, but the result is worth it – the aircraft has ‘landed’,” said Baltaduonis.
“Nowhere else in the world will you find another office building that incorporates a real aircraft into its design,” said Baltaduonis.
