Aerospace and Aeronautical Institute of Puerto Rico

Developed alongside Lufthansa Technik’s MRO Hangar at Borinquen Airport, formerly Ramey Air Force Base in Aguadilla, the Aeronautical and Aerospace Institute of Puerto Rico (AAIPR) fosters collaboration among academic resources, infrastructure, and private-sector partnerships to build a new technical workforce aligned with strategic economic goals, as well as educational and business opportunities.

The institute consists of three main components: an academic building, a repurposed hangar for workshops and labs, and an engine testing facility. The educational building redefines traditional institutional architecture with its radical design. At its core, a concrete and glass structure integrates classrooms, laboratories, administrative offices, a lecture hall, and a double-height space for vertical circulation. This core is enveloped in a semi-translucent polycarbonate skin with four-inch gaps, allowing natural ventilation and light. By day, the skin presents a solid façade; at night, the building’s translucency reveals its inner structure, transforming it into an illuminated landmark that embodies the program’s technical rigor and educational purpose.