Watermark Design was selected to design the first project connected to the new Airbus assembly plant at the Brookley Aeroplex in Mobile, Alabama. In 2013, on a compressed design and documentation schedule of four months, Watermark began work on the $5 million, 35,474 square foot training center for the Alabama Industrial Development Training program (AIDT), the employee recruiting partner of Airbus. The building is located so that Airbus’ Final Assembly Line building is visible from the site.

The new, two-story steel frame training facility with state of the art detailing includes architectural metal roof and wall panels, sleek curtain wall facades, aluminum louver sun shade system on the entire west facade, and a unique energy-saving translucent wall panel system.

Sustainable design principals were followed throughout the design process and the building retains many features that are environmentally-conscious and provide long term cost savings. All of the occupied spaces are soaked with controlled natural daylight. The ground floor includes five teaching labs, an 11,000 square foot workshop area in a high-bay structure with a truck well and loading dock, faculty offices with views to the outdoors, break rooms with outdoor seating and other support areas.

The second floor features six classrooms equipped with interactive technology, connected by an elevated walkway that offers views of the activities on the workshop floor, large conference spaces and offices. The Mobile facility is loosely programmed after other Airbus training centers in China and Germany.

The design team of Watermark Design and Thompson Engineering provided site surveying, geotechnical engineering, environmental monitoring, civil engineering, structural engineering, plumbing, fire alarm, mechanical and electrical engineering, architectural and interior design and landscape design.