Ductwork exits the unit room wall and branches up to the high bay area where the Orion capsule is housed.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Operation and Checkout Building at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., recently underwent a face-lift thanks to SMACNA contractor Lapin Sheet Metal of Orlando, Fla. This historic facility will be used to house the new Orion spacecraft, America’s next generation of space exploration.

Lapin Sheet Metal provided all rectangular ductwork on the O and C Modernization Project, which was made of either single wall or double wall construction.

The challenge on this project was the precise coordination required of the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) team and in creating and maintaining a clean-room environment.

Round air supply duct and rectangular return ductwork.

The ductwork had to be drawn and closely coordinated by the project MEP coordination team of Lapin Sheet Metal’s head CAD designer Wilbur Mummey, the mechanical contractor, and the owner Lockheed Martin, with assistance from the general contractor. These experts routed and located all ductwork, including the locations of each duct support, without conflicts to existing equipment, structures, crane rails, or vacuum chambers. An additional challenge was to internally clean all supply air duct with isopropyl alcohol and cap to maintain a clean-room environment according to the specifications.

The O and C Modernization Project is the start of the most significant spacecraft development effort since the space shuttle. Orion is an advanced capsule design utilizing state-of-the-art technology that will be capable of transporting up to six crew members to and from the International Space Station and up to four crew members as well.