New Flight Operations building hits halfway point to completion

State-of-the-art facility will be ‘a game changer,’ says UND’s director of Flight Operations

Last week, the final steel support beam of UND’s new Flight Operations building was hoisted into position – marking the project’s approximate halfway point to completion.

Faculty, students and staff at the John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences were invited to sign the commemorative beam prior to its hoisting – painted white to differentiate it from the rest of the structure.

The state-of-the-art facility – slated to open in January – will feature 28,000 square feet of instructional and event hosting space, a dispatch center, pre- and post-flight debriefing rooms and flight instructor offices. Most significantly, according to Jeremy Roesler, UND’s director of Flight Operations, the building will serve as the college’s home base.

“This is a game changer for us,” Roesler said. “I think of it as another Memorial Union – people will constantly be coming and going.”

Robert Kraus, dean of the Odegard School, said the facility will honor the college’s legacy, while also providing students with the modern learning environment they need to succeed as aviators.

“From two airplanes in 1968 to a fleet of more than 100 today, UND has built something truly special in aviation,” Kraus said. “This facility honors that legacy while looking forward, streamlining flight training from pre-flight through post-flight, and bringing our community together for everything from Welcome Weekend to career fairs. It’s a space designed to inspire the professional aviators who will shape the future of flight.”

Lars Dyrud, director of development for the Odegard School at the UND Alumni Association & Foundation, said the building will better accommodate the school’s high enrollment.

“It’s a selling point for prospective students,” he added.

The $36 million facility is funded primarily through private donations. Among those who have contributed are Seymour “Si” Robin, namesake of UND’s Robin Hall. He has contributed $7.5 million to the project, and took part in the building’s groundbreaking ceremony last May.

Additionally, the James C. Ray Foundation, Inc., and its President Chuck Ahearn, donated an additional $7.5 million to the project. The foundation honors the legacy of the late benefactor and World War II veteran James C. Ray, who donated millions to the UND Aerospace Foundation and the Alumni Association in the course of his lifetime.

Dyrud noted that contributions are still being accepted, with donors being recognized via commemorative airplane- or helicopter-shaped plaques based on their level of philanthropy.