October 3, 2024 News
On Tuesday, October 1, Shook Construction celebrated the ribbon cutting and grand opening of Sierra Nevada Corporation’s second hangar, as well as the ceremonial groundbreaking of hangars 3 and 4, at their Aviation Innovation & Technology Center in Dayton, Ohio – the birthplace of aviation.
This new 100,000-square-foot hangar is the second facility for the aerospace and defense giant in Dayton. SNC worked with Shook Construction to complete its first large aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility in 2022, the first in the Dayton region since World War II. These spacious 300' x 300' x 90' tall hangars can house the largest aircraft in the U.S. military, meeting the demanding needs of our nation’s defense and reestablishing Dayton as the nation’s hub of aviation and technology.
The opening of its second hangar and construction of future hangars 3 & 4 will allow SNC to further expand their aerospace capabilities in Dayton. These modern hangars will include leading-edge technologies including artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotics, advanced testing and scanning tools, furthering SNC’s efficiency, productivity, quality and safety of their growing workforce in Dayton.
Tuesday’s ceremony featured federal, state and local leaders across the State of Ohio who played an instrumental role in developing SNC’s new worldclass campus in Dayton, including Governor Mike DeWine, Lt. Governor Jon Husted, Senator Steve Huffman, State Representative Rodney Creech, the Dayton Development Coalition, JobsOhio, United States Air Force, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Montgomery County, City of Dayton, Dayton International Airport, and more.
In his opening remarks, John Piatt, Executive Vice President of ISR Aviation & Security for Sierra Nevada Corporation, shared his gratitude to the many key players and the Shook Construction team for its support.
“This is certainly a milestone recognition day for us all,” shared Piatt. “I’d like to say a special thank you to our construction partner, Shook Construction. Your tireless efforts and commitment have resulted in not just one, but two state-of-the-art aviation modernization and innovation facilities. Your dedication to this partnership ensures that we continue to build the future of aerospace right here in Dayton, Ohio, and on the doorstep of the birthplace of aviation.”
As the Design-Builder, Shook broke ground on the second hangar in September 2023. Teamed with A/E partner Passero Associates and trusted local trade partners, the construction was completed in just 10 months. With the ceremonial groundbreaking of hangars 3 and 4 complete, Shook is set to begin construction on these new facilities. Hangar 3 is expected to be finished by late 2025, followed by hangar 4, which is slated for completion in the spring of 2026.
“Together, we protect our nation, we ensure our local economy thrives, and we drive aerospace engineering innovations well into the future,” exclaimed Piatt. “Every job we create, every aircraft we modify, and every mission we support makes this region a true hub of prosperity and growth. It is the true sound of freedom. As we embark on this journey together, supporting our critical national security missions, I look forward to our continued collaboration on future aerospace and defense!”