Some new life is coming to the Kent State University Airport hangar thanks to $5 million in federal, state and university sources to address deferred maintenance. The Kent State Board of Trustees approved the project March 9.
This project will provide new hangar doors along with structural steel repairs, envelope and roof replacement, painting and corrosion repairs, floor improvements and electrical improvements. The repairs and renovations will extend the life of this building a minimum of 20 years to meet the required grant assurances of the Federal Aviation Administration.
The Kent State University Airport has been serving the community since 1917. The community hangar was constructed in 1945 and purchased as an Army surplus Quonset building. This structure houses 34 single-engine and light twin aircraft, the largest aircraft fleet of any aeronautics program in Ohio. Community and university stakeholders have continued to express the desire to maintain this facility.
The hangar has received various repairs over its nearly 80-year life. Many components have exceeded their useful life, including hangar doors.
A design-build team selection is underway, and the design phase will begin immediately. Construction will begin in summer 2023, and the work will be planned and scheduled to minimize impact to the Aeronautics flight programming. Project costs will be phased over four fiscal years.