MTSU Aerospace Facility
The Challenge
As one of the most respected aerospace programs in the nation, the Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) Department of Aerospace needed a dedicated facility to accommodate current professional pilot students and instructors, attract future students from across the globe, accommodate program growth, and offer the latest in flight technology and instruction. A satellite facility featuring a Flight Operations Building and fleet maintenance hangar is under construction in Shelbyville, Tennessee — about 20 miles south of the main MTSU campus — at Shelbyville Municipal Airport, expected to open for the spring semester of 2028.
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Client
Middle Tennessee State University
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Location
Shelbyville, Tennessee
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Size
81,969 square feet
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Distinguishing Features
- 52,804-square-foot Flight Operations Building
- 29,165-square-foot maintenance hangar with space for 14 planes
- Flight simulation bay with various types of simulators
- Two “front doors” – one for landside, one for airside
The Design Solution
TMP worked closely with MTSU to design a future-proof educational facility that caters to the aerospace discipline.
The 52,804-square-foot Flight Operations Building includes administrative spaces, classrooms, a simulation bay with a variety of simulators, lounge areas for students, and a prominent dispatch desk where airplanes can be checked out for flights. Spaces throughout the building radiate off of a main connector spine, which leads to the dispatch desk at the end. This layout helped specifically to promote engagement between students and instructors with intentional gathering spaces, and there’s a watch balcony on the airside of the building overlooking the airfield.
The building features two “front doors” — one on the landside as the main entrance for students, and one on the airside where planes come in. Both entries were designed to make a statement, and exterior materials including metal panels, clear glazing, and black window frames evoke a modern industrial feel.
The adjacent maintenance hangar can hold up to 14 planes. Currently, the school’s hangar only has room for six planes, so the additional space provides a much-needed upgrade.
The Design Impact
With plans for an additional phase in the future, MTSU hopes to create a truly unique satellite facility for its aerospace program, allowing it to reach new heights.
