General Dynamics
Building 602

General Dynamics
Valley Systems Division

Area: 400,000 s.f.

Site: 20 acres

Cost: $40,000,000

Occupancy: 1988

Part of a four-structure complex, Building 602 was designed with an eye toward aesthetics as well as a focus on function. The project is primarily a manufacturing facility with related administrative offices. A warehouse facility for the entire General Dynamics Valley Systems Division is also housed in Building 602. The 400,000 s.f. structure consists of concrete tilt-up panels that stand 35-feet high. In order to reduce the mass of the building and to complement the scale of the surrounding structures, the finish floor was constructed five feet lower than the adjacent engineering buildings. As a center for manufacturing high-tech defense systems, the building features a flexible layout. As a result, the facility can easily be adapted for the manufacture of numerous products. In order to provide this flexibility, the design effort included an in-depth analysis of structural and mechanical systems. The building's design also includes an internal central mechanical room that services the entire structure. A thermal energy storage system serves dual functions: it produces chilled water for energy-efficient air-conditioning, while also providing water for emergency firefighting.