A Civic/Institutional Design Citation of Merit is given for the rehabilitation of Hangar One at Moffett Federal Airfield, an enduring landmark of American engineering and military history. Designed by U.S. Navy engineers to house the airship USS Macon, its streamlined form was dictated by function: massive parabolic trusses, a vast unobstructed interior, and clamshell doors created one of the largest clear-span volumes in the country. After decades of underuse and the discovery of hazardous materials, the hangar was stripped to its steel skeleton. The rehabilitation carefully returned the building to its historic appearance while correcting deficiencies and improving performance. New metal cladding, roofing, and windows replicate the original dimensions, profiles, and configurations while providing improved thermal and moisture performance. Structural upgrades, new infrastructure, insulation, and a passive ventilation system were integrated with minimal visual impact. Inside, the vast open volume, concrete floor, railroad track remnants, and dirigible tie-downs were retained and restored. Under the requirements of NEPA, CEQA, and Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, the project successfully navigated extensive review, including consulting with NASA, the National Park Service, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the California Office of Historic Preservation, meeting the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation. Hangar One demonstrates how rigorous preservation and contemporary building performance can coexist. 

Chris Alwan, Planetary Ventures

Andrew Murray, McCarthy Building Companies (Project Lead); Greg Hadsell, HDR Architecture, Inc. (Architect); Puneet Moonach, CBRE/Turner & Townsend (Project Management); Blake Dillsworth, KPFF Consulting Engineers (Structural Engineer); Christine Lazzaretto and John LoCascio, Historic Resources Group (Historic Consultants); Brenda Levin, Levin & Associates Architects (Historic Consultants); Carianne Statser, HDR Architecture, Inc. (Civil Engineer); Brian Perlberg, HDR Architecture, Inc. (Mechanical Engineer); Paul Davila, HDR Architecture, Inc. (Electrical Engineer); Renee Thomas, Arup (Lighting Design Consultant); Felipe Flores, Arup (Facade Engineering Consultant); Lauren DiCenzo, Simpson Gumpertz & Heger (Historic Materials); Travis St. Louis, Simpson Gumpertz & Heger (Waterproofing); John Montgomery-Brown, EKI Environment & Water, Inc. (Specialty)