2021 was an astronomical year of growth for Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR). In an effort to improve the overall customer experience and increased demand for rentals, MYR designed a new ready return lot for rental car customers. These rental car canopies (600 plus spaces) are not only a customer improvement, it is also an improvement for the employees that work there. These canopies allow customers and employees to get out of the sun, and out of inclement weather. The newly installed canopies provide more shade and light so vehicles won't be as scorching hot in the summer.

Once this project was awarded, the design team began exploring canopy concepts for the 600 plus spaces within MYRs' Rental Car Ready Return lot. The design team immediately locked on to incorporating exposed hot-dip galvanized structural steel.

The design team had successfully utilized hot-dip galvanized structures on multiple projects in the past, and have always been very pleased with the results. Several of these projects are approaching 20 years old and they still look as intended, with no maintenance required other than an annual pressure washing. Hot-dip galvanizing lends itself particularly well for use on this project.

The design team alternatively looked at other high performance coatings for the rental car canopy structures, but the advantages of no maintenance, a high tech appearance, and a lifetime finish easily won the team and the client as the way to proceed. "We expect these canopies to protect Myrtle Beach International Airport's (MYR) rental car customers and vehicles from the elements for a very long time, while continuing to deliver the architectural context we envisioned." -L3SP Associates LTD

The coastal environment is corrosive in nature due to it's close proximity to salt spray from the nearby oceanfront. Adding the jet fuel fumes of a very busy airport to the mix, special means are required to protect the steel.