DESIGN UNVEILED FOR NEW
HARTFORD SCHOOL FOR AVIATION MAINTENANCE 

HARTFORD, Dec. 13, 2006 - Plans for what is believed to be the largest individual classroom at any school in the state were unveiled today by the State Department of Education (SDE), legislators and business leaders.

The education department took the wraps off preliminary plans for a new aircraft maintenance school slated for Hartford 's Brainard Airport.  Plans created by Antinozzi Associates, the Stratford-based architect designing the new school, show the new Hartford School for Aviation Mechanics will include a 10,000 square-foot hanger that's large enough to accommodate two medium-sized airplanes students will use to learn their craft.  

Left to right: State Senator John Fonfara, Ellis Aviation Maintenance Technician
Department Head Charles Hilton, Instructor Roger Phillips and State Representative Pamela Z. Sawyer

SDE said the state had selected one of Antinozzi's designs that includes an exterior of sleek patterned masonry, concrete and glass structure that will be sited at the end of a Brainard Airport runway.  The 32,000 square-foot, $10 million facility will be located on Lindberg Drive, Hartford .

The new post-secondary school, part of the State Department of Education's technical school system, will replace the State's aging aircraft maintenance school now located in Danielson. Antinozzi Associates was retained by the State earlier this year to design the building, slated to be complete by September of 2008.

The school, a substantial enhancement from the Danielson facility, has been strongly endorsed by Connecticut 's aircraft industry as a key source of future skilled workers.  About 60 students are expected in the new three-year, hands-on educational program, along with 10 staff members.

"The rapidly expanding aviation industry is an important part of Connecticut's future. This growth is creating the need for increasing numbers of qualified, licensed technicians to enter high-paying careers in this skilled employment sector," said George Coleman, the state's interim education commissioner. 

"The relocation of the Aviation Maintenance Program to Brainard Airport will help give people better access to this important educational resource.  The revised curriculum allows completion of the program in just two years," he said.  "We hope that the new facility will also create opportunities for industry partners to develop additional training programs for their employees."

"We are very pleased with this development, and appreciate support from the legislature and Governor. It's another example of how the state is helping the tech school system as it adapts to meet the needs of our students and Connecticut's economy," he said.

"The new aviation maintenance school building at Brainard Airport is the latest addition to a system wide regeneration of the Connecticut Technical High School System's facilities.  We have already begun renovations of our schools in Manchester , Danbury , New Britain, Hartford, Norwich and Waterbury.  Several others are in design.  This project will be accelerated because of its scope and because it is a new building.  We look forward to putting shovels in the ground by July 2007," said Abigail L. Hughes, Connecticut Technical High School System superintendent.

State Rep. Pamela Z. Sawyer (R-Bolton), a member of the Legislature's Transportation Committee and vocal proponent of the new school, said, "As the aviation industry in Connecticut continues to grow, it becomes increasingly critical for the State to do everything possible to ensure an ongoing stream of skilled craftspeople."

"The school designed by Antinozzi Associates will be an exciting environment where students will learn state-of-the-art aircraft maintenance techniques that will satisfy the growing needs of the large aircraft employers as well as dozens of smaller aviation manufacturing firms located throughout the state," Sawyer said.

State Sen. John Fonfara (D-Hartford) said, "Attracting airlines and aircraft-related businesses to Connecticut is dependent, in part, on our ability to provide a skilled, qualified workforce.  The industry has a strong past in our state and if we are careful to nurture it, the future can only be stronger."  The new school is located in Sen. Fonfara's district.

"The biggest design challenge for this project was incorporating an aircraft hanger into a school environment," said Paul Antinozzi, AIA, president of the architectural and design firm.  "We also had to design around strict federal and state airport regulations related to runway area height restrictions.  We also had to be mindful of our use of lighting in and around the building that might conflict with airport equipment."

The design calls for the 31-foot tall center hanger area to be flanked by single-story classrooms, offices and specialty shop areas, including an area devoted to teaching students about the use of specialized composite materials in aircraft.

Additional shop areas are devoted to teaching students about maintenance of aircraft engines, welding, sheet metal and other techniques needed in the maintenance of large and small aircraft.

Construction is scheduled to begin in the Spring of 2007.