Hangars and High-Bay Steel Buildings at Spaceport America
Aerospace and aviation buildings are mostly big, open boxes with tall doors, and the pre-engineered steel frame is the efficient way to make one. For operators and suppliers around Spaceport America we erect hangars, high-bay assembly shells, equipment buildings and support shops, with a fixed price per square foot and a schedule laid out in writing. Our trade partners set the frames, panels, trim and hangar doors, and we coordinate the slab, power and utilities with licensed trades.
A New Mexico Spaceport Authority presentation dated August 12, 2025 says Spaceport America's facilities span 18,000 acres in Sierra County, adjacent to White Sands Missile Range, with easy road access to I-25 and I-10. The site lies about 20 miles southeast of Truth or Consequences and 45 miles north of Las Cruces, on State Trust Land.
The sections below describe the crews and what they do, the setting, the buildings, the code, safety in a remote desert location and the schedule.
Frames, panels and doors from our trade partners
We erect the rigid frame, secondary framing, wall and roof panels, trim and doors. For a hangar the door is the largest single element, and we install the hangar doors through trade partners, coordinating the header, tracks and power with the manufacturer. A mistake at the door header shows up as a door that binds, so we survey the opening before the door arrives. Doors are also where weather gets in, so we detail seals, bottom edges and header flashing with care.
We also coordinate the trades that sit around the steel: excavation, concrete, electrical, fire protection and plumbing. On a remote campus, a missing subcontractor can idle a crew for days, so we confirm availability before we set the date. When the work calls for heavier framing, the structural steel erection trade partners handle it under the same schedule.
What the setting offers
The Spaceport Authority lists a high elevation of 4,600 feet MSL, 340+ days of sunshine, no salt air corrosion and access to 6,000 square miles of restricted airspace (R5111 and R5107). For a steel building those are useful facts. Sun and dry air mean good erection weather for much of the year, and no salt air means the coatings on exposed steel and fasteners last longer than they would on a coast.
The Authority also states that Spaceport America was entirely funded by New Mexico public resources, about $250 million. We do not claim any work on the campus, and we do not know what buildings its tenants will add. We know what steel buildings do well, and our aviation work shows how we price them for whoever is building. Operators who need support space in town can also look at our Truth or Consequences page.
Hangars, high bays and shops
The core building is a clear span hangar sized to the aircraft or vehicle. We start with the largest wingspan, tail height and tow path, then set the door opening, the frame width and the eave height. Our aircraft hangar service describes the options, from small T-hangars to large maintenance buildings. The aircraft hangar building type page covers layouts.
Assembly and test work needs a high bay, sometimes with an overhead crane. We design the crane runway into the frame, and our high-bay crane-ready buildings and crane industrial buildings pages explain the options. Clean floors, temperature control and power are specified with your engineers. Support buildings, such as shops, storage and offices, use the same frames at lower cost.
Codes, state land and the approvals
The 2021 New Mexico Commercial Building Code (14.7.2 NMAC) adopts the 2021 International Building Code as amended and took effect July 14, 2023. The 2021 energy code took effect January 30, 2024, and the 2020 electrical code March 28, 2023. A hangar has its own fire and egress rules, including fire suppression requirements that depend on size and use, so the fire protection engineer comes in early.
Land is the other approval. The site is State Trust Land, so a tenant's building typically sits on leased ground with the landlord's rules for design, siting and use. We ask for those documents before we draw. We do not guess what the authority will accept, and we revise drawings to meet its review comments.
Safety on a remote desert site
Heat is the main hazard in summer. Crews start early, drink water on a schedule, take shade breaks and watch each other for heat illness. Steel gets hot to the touch, so gloves and sleeves are required. Water for drinking and cleanup is brought in and tracked.
Remote sites also mean help is a long way off. We carry first aid, have an emergency plan with the nearest hospital and road access mapped, and keep communication working in areas with weak cell service. Because the campus sits next to restricted airspace and test activity, we ask about site rules, badge requirements and any periods when access is closed. Fall protection, rigging and bracing follow the same standards as any job.
Planning around distance and access
Spaceport America is far from any large supplier, and the schedule reflects that. We order extra fasteners, flashing and sealant, stage material on site and verify each package against the packing list. Steel comes by truck, and long loads need an approved route and escort where required.
We build the schedule backward from your date: permits and landlord approvals, engineering, steel production, foundation, erection, doors and closeout. The foundation and the door are the two long-lead items to watch. We also price lodging for the crew and, if needed, hauled water for concrete. Our Las Cruces page describes how we handle large work in the southern part of the state.
Send the aircraft or vehicle dimensions
Tell us the wingspan, tail height and what happens inside the building. We will return with a layout, a door recommendation and a price per square foot.
Common Questions
How wide should a hangar door be?
The opening must clear the widest wing or vehicle with room to spare, often several feet on each side. We take the largest wingspan and tail height you plan to house, add tow-path clearance and then match a door type to the opening. Door type affects the header and the cost.
Can a pre-engineered building hold an overhead crane?
Yes, if it is designed for it. The crane runway, capacity and span are included in the frame design from the start. Adding a crane later to a building not designed for one usually needs reinforcement.
Do you build on State Trust Land?
Yes, with the lessee's approvals. The lease and the landlord's design rules govern. We request those documents first and design the building to meet them.
How long does a hangar take?
After approvals, the steel package takes several weeks, the foundation runs alongside it and the erection is a matter of days to weeks depending on size. Doors often set the end date. We lay out the sequence in writing.
Is heat a problem for a metal building?
Insulation, reflective roof coatings and ventilation keep the interior workable. For aircraft and equipment work we discuss temperature goals and size the envelope to match.
