Astin Aviation

Project Name

Astin Aviation

Square Footage:

40,000 sf hanger; 9,200 sf office and storage

Location:

College Station, Texas

Category:

About This Project

Astin Aviation Fixed Base Operation (FBO) serves as the gateway to Aggieland, and it is designed by The Arkitex Studio to enhance visitors’ experience, facilitate military and corporate operations, and create a futuristic vision of the rapidly growing Bryan-College Station metropolis.  The new General Aviation Terminal and Hangar are the most recent part of our projects in a series of continuing collaborations with the Astin Partners and Texas A&M University/Systems. The building pays tribute to Easterwood airport history, while introducing modern features into the facility. The 8,700 square foot General Aviation Terminal features a large reception area, corporate and military flight-planning areas, fully equipped conference rooms, a pilot’s lounge as well as a dedicated military lounge, spaces for leisure and dining and flight operations and customer services areas.  In addition, there is corporate office space available that can double as post-hazard response and even rescue operations. The Terminal building consists of two operational wards that embrace a three-dimensional v-shaped glass mass (lobby and transition space) at each side. The clearstory glass structure soars into the sky and frames the land and air sides at each end. This creates a welcoming interior space with a warm quality by using materials such as quarter sawn white oak and the solid surface at the reception and hospitality counters complimented by elegant modern leather furniture. At the exterior of the operational wards, metal panels are installed above the cut limestone façade to tie the terminal building to the hangar.    The 40,000 square feet storage hangar, located adjacent to the terminal, is capable of accommodating multiple privately-owned aircraft.  The exterior of the building is designed with 3 different metal panel profiles that visually reduce the scale of the building from a distance and provide a second level of detail when viewed close-up.

Photography By: Charles D. Smith, FAIA