5 advantages of fabric structures for the military
1. They can be procured much more quickly.
It can take years to get MILCON funding for traditional construction. Because steel-framed fabric structures are relocatable, they qualify for different colors of money, including equipment dollars, and the procurement process takes significantly less time.
2. They can be operational much more quickly.
Because steel-framed fabric structures are fabricated offsite and erected on-site, they can go up much more quickly than traditional construction. We just completed a 240’ x 240’ hangar in just 8 months (4 months to fabricate/4 months to erect). That size structure would have taken years to complete using traditional construction.
3. They cost less than traditional construction.
While every bit as functional as a traditional building, steel-framed fabric structures are pre-fabricated, and require fewer subcontractors and less on-site labor. The result is a customized, building-code-compliant structure that’s durable, functional, and offers a highly attractive cost-to-benefit ratio.
4. The sustainment costs are much lower.
The simplified nature of steel-framed fabric structures means they are less costly to maintain. In fact, there is little-to-no maintenance required. This is a significant savings of money and man-hours.
5. They can be relocated if necessary.
Steel-framed fabric structures are engineered to be permanent, but designed to be relocatable. Any number of the structures we’ve built are 20+ years old, so they can function just as a traditional structure would. But they can also be disassembled and moved to a different site on the same base, or to another continent.
Cocoon and its partner Rubb Buildings have worked with every branch of the military on everything from large hangars and warehouses, to fitness facilities and sunshades. We can provide you not only with design, engineering, and assembly, but also procurement pathways, and contract vehicles.