Designed to represent modern narrow-body aircrafts, the Airport Rescue and Fire Fighter Training Facility in Punta Gorda required crews to build not only the 95-foot aircraft mock-up, but a water reclamation structure and control building to manage the fire training simulator.

More than 100 underground ducts that had to be installed in a 175-foot diameter area, hitting their required points within a 3-inch tolerance.

Judges were impressed by the facility’s capabilities, what was constructed, how it’s accessed and the training involved. The project, completed below budget and on schedule, required the team to coordinate with state and local transportation agencies to transport the aircraft from Pennsylvania to Florida.

Modeled after a similar training center in Denver, the Charlotte County facility added several new features, including upgraded smoke machines, a water reclamation system and a simulator designed to use only chemical-free water to eliminate the need for additional cleaning systems.