New Flight Operations Center Planned for University of North Dakota

ND – The John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences at the University of North Dakota (UND) is recognized as one of the premier collegiate aviation programs in the U.S., but for nearly 30 years its flight operations have been conducted out of a former maintenance building at Grand Forks International Airport (GFK). The building has been remodeled several times over the years to accommodate the growing numbers of students and instructors, but it cannot be made larger or newer. UND Aerospace attracts students from around the country, indeed from around the world, the university has embarked on a fundraising program to replace it as well as the adjacent hangar to handle the massive number of flight operations conducted by the school – last year alone, students and instructors logged more than 125,000 flight hours.

The planned three-story Flight Operations Center will feature a faux-wood and metal design rendered by JLG Architects, and construction management has been contracted with McGough Construction. The building will prioritize a high-tech network to connect flight operations with management, ample natural light, efficient workflow, and separate areas for records, dispatch, and instructor offices. There will also be a pilot shop for supplies and accessories, briefing/debriefing rooms, and an executive board room. The new multi-purpose hangar is designed to celebrate the history of UND Aerospace, allow plenty of room for expansion, and enhance cooperation and camaraderie among students, instructors, and staff.