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Ghost Hangar
“Ghost Hangar is probably one of the
most clever and astute executions of
the notion of the Texas shed and the
expression of a sense of place…. And
yet inside is this beautiful structural
system that is so tectonic, so expressive,
and so directly related to the function
of the hangar and the aircraft within it,
that I found that duality to be extremely
powerful.”
— Gordon Gill, FAIA
Location Utopia, Texas
Client Lewis Air Legends
Architect John Grable Architects
Design Team John Grable, FAIA, Krystal Sepulveda,
Matthew Martinez, Javier Alonso
Contractor Joeris
Structural Engineer DCI Engineers
MEP Engineer Barker & Associates
Interior Design Peace Design
Concrete Contractors T&D Moravits
Photographer John Grable Architects
This 32,000-sf structure houses a living collection
of WWII aircraft while providing thermal comfort
for aviation mechanics, pilots, and visitors. The
remote site and program presented a unique design
challenge: how to transport and erect a 120-ft clear
span structure while minimizing the impact on the
landscape. The precedent structural system of a
Quonset hut was converted to a rigid steel frame to
achieve longer spans, with spring line-to-saddlebag
connections providing the necessary vertical clearance. The roof structure and board-formed concrete buttresses provide durability, and reclaimed,
preweathered barnwood siding, upcycled HVAC,
natural and mechanical ventilation, and ample
natural light round out the design9s response to the
Texas climate. Passive light shelves, deep overhangs,
cupolas, and a ThermaSteel envelope render the
unconditioned hangar a shaded refuge even in the
hottest summer.
80 Texas Architect
9/10 2024
