Latitude Air Ambulance Rapid‑Response Hangar & Operations Centre

Latitude Air Ambulance is taking flight in a brand‑new, purpose‑built base at Hamilton International Airport. The 26 400 ft² pre‑engineered hangar links directly to a two‑storey 12 500 ft² office wing and a 4 500 ft² apron‑side terrace, replacing leased space scattered across the airfield. By unifying dispatch, maintenance, and patient‑transfer areas within one secure envelope, the project shaves crucial minutes off scramble times, supports round‑the‑clock crew readiness, and gives Latitude room to expand its critical‑care fleet over the coming decade. In addition, the facility also includes crew amenities such as a rest area, child minding room, and a fitness gym.

Latitude Air Ambulance’s grey steel aircraft hangar at Hamilton International Airport, featuring large white sliding doors that open onto the tarmac.

Design Team

This achievement was made possible by our talented design team:

Jaqcueline Gordon, P.Eng.

Project Manager

Jacqueline Gordon, P.Eng., Mechanical Engineer

Grant Hall, P.Eng.

Mechanical & Electrical

S. Grant Hall, P.Eng., Founder and Senior Principal

Ty Williams

Mechanical

Ty Williams, Mechanical Designer

Garret Robertson-Gates

Electrical

Garrett Robertson‑Gates, Electrical Designer
Grassmere Construction Ltd. logo.

Our Client: Grassmere Construction

Grassmere Construction Ltd. is a design‑build and construction‑management firm founded in 1988 in Tillsonburg, Ontario. The company delivers industrial, commercial, institutional, and community projects across Southern Ontario, earning a reputation for craftsmanship, on‑site safety, and long‑term client partnerships that strengthen local economies.

Reflections From Grassmere Construction

“It was a pleasure working with Callidus Engineering on the Latitude Air Ambulance project at Hamilton Airport. Their team displayed exceptional technical expertise and responsiveness, ensuring all mechanical and electrical systems were designed and implemented efficiently. Callidus Engineering’s collaborative approach helped us navigate project challenges smoothly, delivering high‑quality results on time. We highly recommend Callidus Engineering for any complex engineering projects”

– Mike Booth, President, Grassmere Construction

Interior of Latitude Air Ambulance hangar, showing high white steel trusses with bright LED lighting, red fire‑suppression piping, and an open concrete floor ready for aircraft maintenance.

Engineering Life‑Saving Systems for Life‑Saving Crews

Its air‑side location on Airport Road in Mount Hope, Ontario demanded close coordination with airport authorities on height, setback, and hazardous‑zone requirements. Regular coordination meetings with Grassmere Construction steered multiple design iterations and interim solutions such as a gravity sewer feeding a temporary holding tank bridged civic‑infrastructure delays and kept construction moving quickly and efficiently.

Technical Highlights

Mechanical Systems

  • Hangar door height reduced from 30 ft to 28 ft, allowing a standard sprinkler system in place of costly foam suppression.
  • Three high‑efficiency condensing boilers feed a hydronic loop that delivers radiant in‑floor heating to the hangar, child‑minding room, and other high‑bay areas for draft‑free comfort.
  • Zone‑based rooftop units handle heating, cooling, and ventilation; interior swing doors were added to isolate the café’s overhead doors and prevent conditioned‑air loss.
  • Dedicated make‑up air units and energy‑recovery ventilators supply fresh air while keeping operating costs in check.
Two grey rooftop HVAC units on the Latitude Air Ambulance hangar, linked by yellow gas lines, with grassy airfield visible beyond.
Interior corridor of the Latitude Air Ambulance facility, featuring exposed ductwork and suspended LED strip lights above built‑in cabinets and shelving on a polished concrete floor.

Electrical Systems

  • OESC Section 18 hazardous‑zone design keeps all wiring and devices clear of fuel‑vapour areas beneath aircraft wings.
  • Ground‑power receptacles for ground-power units, hydraulic carts, and battery chargers at each bay.
  • 347/600 V electric snow‑melt cables with APS‑4C and SC‑40C smart controllers keep the ramp and overhead‑door thresholds ice‑free.
  • A new 600 V/347 V, 600 A main distribution panel with 120/208 V and 600 V branch panels powers rooftop units, lighting, EV chargers, and future expansion.

Looking Ahead

With construction well underway, the new hangar and operations centre will allow Latitude Air Ambulance to double fleet capacity and sustain rapid medevac response across Ontario and beyond, supported by efficient, code‑compliant systems designed to keep critical operations running 24/7. Ultimately, we’re always thrilled to see our work contributing to life saving operations across Canada.

Gallery

Rear view of the Latitude Air Ambulance hangar—a large grey steel building with a tall service door, trailers, and a pickup truck parked on the newly paved apron.
Small office at the Latitude Air Ambulance facility with a dark feature wall, gold ceiling, and suspended linear LED lights still wrapped in protective plastic; a glass doorway opens to the lobby beyond.
Under‑construction staff area at the Latitude Air Ambulance facility with mustard‑yellow accent wall and ceiling panel, exposed grey ductwork, suspended LED and pendant lights, and worktables wrapped in protective paper alongside stacked construction materials.
Flat roof of the Latitude Air Ambulance hangar with two grey Carrier rooftop HVAC units and ventilation ducts beside a dark metal wall.
Lobby of the Latitude Air Ambulance facility with floor‑to‑ceiling windows, polished concrete floor, and sculptural pendant lights still wrapped in protective plastic.
Lobby of the Latitude Air Ambulance facility under construction—polished concrete floor, floor‑to‑ceiling windows, sculptural pendant lights wrapped in plastic, and unpacked fixture boxes on the floor.
Workshop area under construction at the Latitude Air Ambulance facility, featuring suspended ceiling panels, exposed ductwork, a tall yellow ladder, and a red scissor lift near a large glass overhead door.
Mezzanine inside the Latitude Air Ambulance facility with exposed steel trusses, pendant lights, a large ceiling fan, and glass‑walled offices overlooking full‑height windows and the parking lot.
Exterior corner of the Latitude Air Ambulance facility with white cladding, floor‑to‑ceiling windows, and a concrete walkway beneath a canopy.
Lounge area under construction at the Latitude Air Ambulance facility, showing a glossy black fireplace wall with a linear electric insert, pendant lights hanging from an accent canopy, and a yellow step ladder on the polished concrete floor.
Interior view through two‑storey floor‑to‑ceiling windows at the Latitude Air Ambulance facility, overlooking a parking lot and grassy airfield.
Long corridor inside the Latitude Air Ambulance facility with exposed ceiling services and suspended LED strip lights above built‑in work counters, shelving, and windows; cardboard boxes sit on the polished concrete floor during fit‑out.