Gaddis Wind Associates designs 225,000 s/f fixed base operation for $60 million

First Aviation Services has opened a 225,000 s/f, $60 million fixed base operation - or private and corporate aircraft terminal - at Teterboro Airport including a wide spectrum of jet services and a hub for NetJets' national leasing operations. Ronkonkoma, N.Y.-based Gaddis Wind Associates designed the facility for the around-the-clock operation providing aircraft maintenance, fueling and concierge services for customers flying into and out of Teterboro. The 24-acre site also includes a 300,000 gallon fuel farm, which allows First Aviation to serve its customers, NetJets and others. Tenants started moving into the facility during September and October. The First Aviation headquarters is part of a new generation of FBOs - or sites servicing aircraft and passengers - which are going from being bare-bones warehouses in which jets are worked to include more welcoming and efficient surroundings. First Aviation managing director and co-founder Joseph Ritorto said he hired Gaddis Wind to do a revamp. Teterboro has five FBOs, which he said encourages competition. Gaddis Wind designed the facility using the latest technology and taking into account needs and requests of First Aviation personnel, according to Ritorto. Gaddis Wind principal Jim Gaddis and Jacqui Wind, who together designed the FBO, consulted with people in all of First Aviation's departments to design a site that suited them. The new FBO is a smart building more efficient than its predecessor, built about 25 years ago. This is a post 9/11 FBO designed to be safer and more streamlined. They even took into account possible future guidelines. Since it's possible DHS will require scanning of luggage, they laid out spaces with room to install scanners.