MIDDLETOWN, OH — Skanska joined Butler Tech and regional partners to celebrate the official opening of the new Butler Tech Aviation Center at Middletown Regional Airport. The ribbon cutting was followed by tours of the hangar, instructional labs, and training equipment, marking a major milestone in a multiyear effort to expand aviation workforce training across southwest Ohio. The Aviation Center is a 28,000‑square‑foot, $15 million facility designed to serve as a hub for hands‑on aviation education and skilled‑trade development.
Delivered through a collaborative public investment, the new Aviation Center triples Butler Tech’s aviation training capacity from approximately 50 students to more than 150 each year, helping meet the region’s projected need for more than 1,300 aviation maintenance technicians and thousands of additional aviation professionals by 2030.
“This project showcases how strategic construction and community partnership can reshape a region’s workforce pipeline,” said Chris Hopper, Vice President and General Manager for Skanska’s Cincinnati operations. “By delivering a modern, industry‑aligned aviation training environment, we’re helping Butler Tech prepare students for technical careers that fuel both the local economy and the broader aviation sector.”
Skanska is the construction manager on the project, with emersion DESIGN as the architect. Classrooms, labs, and offices make up the 28,000 square feet of educational space, which also includes 8,500 square feet of dedicated hangar space.
“The future of aviation training in southwest Ohio is being built here in Middletown,” said William T. Sprankles, Ph.D., Superintendent and CEO of Butler Tech. “This center gives students the opportunity to train in a true aviation environment, earn industry certifications, and step directly into high‑demand technical careers.”
| Your local Atlas Copco CMT USA dealer |
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| Brandeis Machinery |
| Brandeis Machinery |
Students begin Butler Tech’s three‑year aviation career pathway in the 10th grade, combining classroom instruction with hands‑on technical labs, aircraft maintenance training, aerospace engineering, private pilot exposure, and unmanned aircraft systems. The hangar’s design and instructional layout support teaching in these areas.
“This is a perfect example of community and economic development,” said Adam Snoddy, Principal of the Butler Tech Aviation Center. “The immediate benefit is for our students, but the long-term benefit will be felt across the aviation industry and the regional economy.”
Located between Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio, and near Wright‑Patterson Air Force Base, the location of Butler Tech’s Aviation Center provides students with direct exposure to industry operations, mentorship, and hands-on aviation experience.
Funding for the $15 million project includes the following contributions:
| Your local Wirtgen America dealer |
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| Brandeis Machinery |
| Brandeis Machinery |
- $7 million from Butler Tech
- $7 million from the Butler County Commissioners
- $1 million from JobsOhio
- $500,000 from the City of Middletown
