Case Study: the United States Navy restores and secures China Lake with Thornton Tomasetti engineering

United States Navy secures China Lake with Thornton Tomasetti across 10 facilities

The United States Navy faced the challenge of restoring and modernizing its mission-critical Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake after significant earthquake damage. The Navy needed to not only repair the extensive facilities but also enhance their security and resilience against future threats. Thornton Tomasetti was engaged to provide integrated engineering services, including forensic assessments, protective design, and construction engineering.

Thornton Tomasetti implemented a multidisciplinary solution, conducting rapid structural assessments, incorporating anti-terrorism and blast-resistant features into new and renovated facilities, and planning the complex erection of long-span hangars. This effort successfully delivered a more resilient and secure test range, with new capacity and a clearer understanding of the base's legacy facilities. The project was recognized with an ENR Best of the Best award in 2025.

United States Navy