Historic Ford Hangar Renovation Plans Will Be Unveiled At September’s 100th Anniversary Gala

JMA Architects, Village of Lansing Collaborate to Reactivate Masterpiece in Chicago’s South Suburbs

LANSING, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Plans for one of the most significant and monumental architectural restorations in Chicagoland history will be announced on Friday, September 18, 2026, in Lansing, Illinois.

“For years, our goal has been to fully restore the Historic Ford Hangar,” said Lansing Mayor Brian Hardy. “Now, as we celebrate its 100^th Anniversary, we are unveiling its future.”

The Historic Ford Hangar, designed by world-renowned architect Albert Kahn and built by Henry Ford for his Tri-Motor airplanes, was listed on the National Registry of Historic Places in 1985; repairs or renovations must be in strict compliance with their requirements.

Wayne Babiak grew up in neighboring Calumet City and his own story is woven with the Hangar’s story. “I remember riding in the backseat of my parents’ car late at night in the 1950s, seeing the Hangar’s flashing beacon and knowing we were close to home.” Babiak earned his degree in Architectural Engineering in Chicago, earned his pilot’s license at the Lansing Airport, and now works for JMA Architects, the firm designing the Hangar’s renovation.

Principal Architect at the firm James Maciejewski, AIA, says, “We’re working very closely with the State Historic Preservation Office to balance preservation with an adaptive reuse of the structure. It’s a big responsibility to preserve the only remaining Kahn-designed cantilevered Hangar. It means working within tight constraints, resolving deterioration, and integrating modern technology.

“Mechanical systems, fire protection, and functionality all need to be addressed and balanced with the original design. We want to preserve the history and the original elements of the construction to the greatest degree possible to make it fully operable.”

Plans to satisfy these complex goals will be announced to the 100^th Anniversary Gala guests on Friday. Visitors to Saturday’s Historic Places Motorcoach Tour and free Expo & Aviation Showcase will also see the drawings. Maciejewski will be at the Expo discussing Kahn’s design innovations and the unique solutions to reactive the Hangar.

Tickets and details about the weekend celebration and capital campaign are at fordhangar100.org.

“The Hangar is the crown jewel of the work Kahn did in collaboration with Ford,” says Babiak. “And it’s right here in the south suburbs of Chicago.”