Museum Project

Our goal is to build a world class aviation education center that features:
Centers for media, research, and education.
Educational interactive exhibits, displays, and memorabilia.

In October 2005, Mr. Tom Waldren of the Greystone Construction Company of Shakopee presented us with a very preliminary cost estimate for our proposed museum and aviation education center. As no site has been selected yet, some assumptions had to be made to come up with the cost analysis. What they designed is a 25,800 square foot facility of which 40% is dedicated to office space, meeting rooms, a kitchen area, and an exhibit area. The remaining 60% of the space is the hangar/restoration area which is 150 feet wide but requires no interior support columns. The exterior appearance is reminiscent of a World War II hangar but the construction materials are strictly modern, including precast wall panels and a patented roof system. The design is complete down to the kitchen equipment, the HVAC system, and even the toilet paper dispensers.

Certain items were not included, often due to the lack of a specific site. This includes the parking lot work and the aircraft ramp and taxiway connections. The costs of office equipment, displays, shop tools, interior decorating, and landscaping touches were also not included. But the plan is quite complete and thorough, given the restrictions.

The total cost estimate for the Greystone design is $3,000,000, in 2005 dollars. We feel confident that even after adding the unknowns of a specific site, and equipping the space as we would like to see it, that our Capital Campaign goal of $5,000,000 is very realistic.

These cost figures do not include the addition of a Challenger Center for Space Science Education. It is estimated that this would add about $1,000,000 to the overall project. It would also require 4,000 to 5,000 square feet that could possibly come from space in the existing design or may require the slight enlarging of the building to about 30,000 square feet total. We are sending a representative from the Museum Development Committee to visit the Challenger Center in Bloomington , Illinois in November. He will be asking many questions and trying to determine if this would be a good fit with our vision. It seems to be the answer to our desires to provide a world-class educational experience.

We are also hoping to send a small group to the Yankee Museum in Ypsilanti, Michigan to find out more about their successful fund-raising efforts both when they first started and again now after their major fire. This group will be members of our Board of Directors and members of the Museum Development Committee.

	Get ready for the “All new”
Wings of the North Air Museum!



Interested?
*Here’s how you can help!* Attend the Museum Formation Meeting on the third Thursday of the month at the Wings of the North Office, 9960 Flying Cloud Drive, Suite 204 in the Executive Aviation Building at 7pm. This is your chance to give input and ideas, and to help become an important part of this dynamic team. *Right now, you can make a difference!*

For More Information, please contact greg kaminski at: gregk@wotn.org

Get ready for the “All new”