Hawthorne Global Aviation Services
Butler® partners with client and builder to deliver a purpose-built fixed base airport operation. TextureWall™ and VSR II™ systems created a durable, architecturally strong facility that elevates operations, strengthens Hawthorne’s regional presence and honors the airport’s history.
Project
Overview
Hawthorne Global Aviation Services has been a steady force in general aviation since 1932. When the company set its sights on Chicago, it targeted a market defined by scale, complexity and constant traffic. To anchor its presence, Hawthorne identified Chicago Executive Airport (CEA) as the strategic location for a new fixed-base operator facility — its first in a top-tier aviation hub.
To move the project forward, Hawthorne engaged Avian Solutions, LLC to guide contractor selection. The consultant recommended Chapple Design Build, a 65-year-old firm and long-time Butler Builder®. Chapple brought deep aviation experience and the assurance of Butler® building systems to a project where reliability and execution mattered.
Four parties aligned to deliver the development: Hawthorne, Avian Solutions, Chapple Design-Build and a local aviation development consultant. Avian Solutions, already familiar with Butler, unified the team and reinforced a project environment built on shared objectives.
“When you have everyone working toward the same goal, things get done, they get done properly and they get done quickly. Every addition to the airport helps the local economy,” said Phil Abbinanti of Chapple Design Build.
The Hawthorne fixed-base operation at CEA represents the rare opportunity to design an aviation facility from the ground up. That flexibility enabled Chapple to deliver a structure with strong architectural presence and systemized performance.
Hawthorne selected the TextureWall™ panel wall system to replace the precast concrete common in older airport facilities. TextureWall provides a refined, stucco-like finish and meets the airport’s requirement for a complementary masonry base.
“Butler doesn’t produce a typical steel, raised-rib metal building. We felt that the products and systems Chapple recommended would make Hawthorne one of the more attractive buildings at the airport,” said David Annin, Hawthorne’s head at Chicago Executive Airport.
The hangar features a 28-foot-high sliding door capable of handling today’s largest business aircraft. The attached terminal and office wing use a hipped-roof design to elevate the building profile, while the central terminal volume reaches more than 20 feet to create a strong sense of arrival. One wing houses FBO operations with passenger and pilot amenities; the other provides leasable office space for tenant aviation teams.
Natural light enters from both sides of the building, and a porte-cochère offers a protected arrival point for travelers. Chapple specified the VSR II™ architectural standing-seam roof system for the terminal and office areas to deliver a clean aesthetic and proven performance.
“Most facilities have a cold, sterile, commercial or industrial-type interior, with marble floors and black leather chairs. We very much wanted to stay away from that and set ourselves apart with a warm environment,” Annin said.
Butler doesn’t produce a typical steel, raised-rib metal building. We felt that the products and systems Chapple recommended would make Hawthorne one of the more attractive buildings at the airport.
Inside the terminal, Hawthorne created a setting defined by warm materials, natural wood, comfortable furnishings and a fireplace — an intentional contrast to traditional FBO interiors.
“Every customer who walks in is absolutely thrilled and impressed with the welcoming, comfortable feel. They’ve commented on how different it is from other facilities, how warm and beautiful it is,” said Annin.
Hawthorne and Chapple invested in landscaping that met airport and municipal requirements while providing a clear sense of place. A brick monument topped with a lighted beacon sits at the entry. The bricks were reclaimed from the 80-year-old Hangar No. 1 previously located on the site, and the beacon originated from the historic tower that once stood beside it.
The new FBO positions Hawthorne for continued growth in the Chicago market and reinforces its commitment to CEA.
Said Annin: “We’re very excited to grow our footprint in the Chicago area. This building is exactly what we envisioned to help take Hawthorne to a new level and stand out in this market.”
