Global integrated design firm Stantec and local architect Vermont Studios, comprised of team members from Studio III Architecture and Scott + Partners Architecture, are providing architectural services for BETA Technologies’ new manufacturing facility in South Burlington, Vermont. The new 350,000-square-foot facility will be a site to produce the company’s all-electric aircraft capable of transporting cargo or passengers.    

Situated on 40 acres adjacent to Burlington International Airport, the new manufacturing facility will be highly sustainable and energy efficient, featuring all-electric mechanical systems, a high-performance exterior envelope, rooftop solar panels to harness free solar energy, and a geothermal well system tied to an energy recovery ventilation system. The structure of the manufacturing spaces will be framed in steel and the office and support areas will incorporate a steel/mass timber hybrid.

The three-story facility, which will be constructed in two phases, will house aircraft assembly, office and support areas, and mechanical and service spaces. The main entrance will open to a large reception overlooking the production floor and direct access to all parts of the facility. Employees and visitors can also experience electric aircraft in flight with a full-size flight simulator located just off the reception area.

Design inspired by the beauty of Vermont

The building’s design reflects the surrounding community and natural environment. Crisp white insulated metal clad facades frame wide views of the sky above, and naturally weathering Corten steel fins accent entrances and provide warm-hued solar shading for the dining hall and office areas.

Flexible, collaborative, and open workstations, along with private offices and meeting spaces, offer a visual connection to the skylit production floor as well as the outdoors. Employees will have access to a full-service kitchen, cafeteria, and dining spaces that extend to the adjacent outdoor patio. Overlooking the airfield, multipurpose rooms provide a variety of meeting, training, and event spaces. Integrated bike storage, changing and shower rooms, and lockers supporting running/biking commuters and employee well-being are planned into the facility, utilizing evidence-based approaches.

“Designing BETA Technologies’ new manufacturing facility allowed our team to push the envelope in terms of innovative all-electric, zero combustion building technologies,” said Michael Grant, project executive for Stantec. “Our global commitment to sustainable design aligns with BETA’s focus on reaching net-zero, both with this project and future operations, and we’re proud to have a hand in delivering cutting edge sustainable design that reflects the context of the local environment and the mission of our client.”

About Stantec

Communities are fundamental. Whether around the corner or across the globe, they provide a foundation, a sense of place and of belonging. That’s why at Stantec, we always design with community in mind. We care about the communities we serve—because they’re our communities too. We’re designers, engineers, scientists, and project managers, innovating together at the intersection of community, creativity, and client relationships. Balancing these priorities results in projects that advance the quality of life in communities across the globe. Stantec trades on the TSX and the NYSE under the symbol STN. Visit us at stantec.com or find us on social media.