The hangar sits inside the Santa Monica Airport property, a small municipal airfield that still handles general aviation traffic alongside the event operation, which shapes some of the access and noise considerations planners need to account for.
Its open 35,000-square-foot floor plate, free of interior columns, is the reason production and experiential teams reach for Barker Hangar over a hotel ballroom: it can take a full architectural build, a large stage, or a fleet of vehicles without the layout compromises a conventional venue forces.
An additional 6,000 square feet of dressing, production, and conference rooms sits adjacent to the main floor, and more than 85,000 square feet of exterior space surrounds the building, giving large product launches room to spill outside without leaving the property.
Execution priorities
- 35,000 square feet of open, column-free hangar floor.
- An additional 6,000 square feet of dressing, production, and conference space.
- More than 85,000 square feet of adjacent exterior area for overflow builds.
- Active airfield operations on the surrounding property affect access and noise planning.
Designing for a column-free 35,000 square feet
The absence of interior columns is what separates Barker Hangar from almost every hotel ballroom or conference-center hall in the region, and it's the first thing a production designer should confirm before drawing a floor plan, since it removes the usual sightline compromises a supported structure forces.
That open span comes with hangar-scale ceiling height too, which supports rigging, large-format screens, and vehicle displays that a standard ballroom ceiling simply can't accommodate.
Working around an active airfield
Because the hangar sits on operating airport property, general aviation traffic continues around event days, and that reality shapes both noise expectations for outdoor components and the credentialing process for vehicles and equipment moving across airport grounds.
Coordinating with the Barker Hangar events team early on aircraft movement schedules and any airside access needs avoids surprises on show day, particularly for builds that extend into the more than 85,000 square feet of adjacent exterior space.
Support space and production build-out
The additional 6,000 square feet of dressing, production, and conference rooms gives a large activation the back-of-house support it needs, talent holding, production offices, and green rooms, without eating into the main hangar floor's usable square footage.
For entertainment-industry and product-launch clients specifically, that separation between show floor and support space is often the deciding factor over a ballroom that would force those functions into the same room as the event itself.
Freight, load-in, and show day
Freight and large equipment moves in through the hangar's own service access rather than a standard loading dock, and confirming vehicle size and route with the events team ahead of time matters more here than at a purpose-built convention hall.
With a build this large, a printed run-of-show and clear escalation contacts on show day keep the schedule intact, and locking outbound freight and strike logistics the day after the event avoids the drift that large experiential builds are prone to.
Parking for crew, vendors, and guests also needs its own plan on an airport property, since general aviation activity shares the same access roads, and the events team can advise on the current lot allocation before a show date is confirmed.
Frequently asked questions
How much usable floor space does Barker Hangar have?
35,000 square feet of open, column-free hangar floor, plus an additional 6,000 square feet of dressing, production, and conference rooms.
Is there outdoor space available at the venue?
Yes, more than 85,000 square feet of adjacent exterior area, useful for large experiential builds and product launches that need to extend beyond the hangar floor.
Does the active airfield affect event planning?
Yes. General aviation traffic continues on event days, which shapes noise expectations and vehicle credentialing for anything moving across airport grounds.
What kind of events is Barker Hangar built for?
Large-format product launches, experiential environments, sponsor programs, and entertainment-adjacent builds that need open floor space a ballroom can't offer.
How does freight move in and out of the hangar?
Through the hangar's own service access rather than a standard convention-center dock, so vehicle size and route should be confirmed with the events team before final freight planning.
Can a build use both the hangar floor and the exterior grounds together?
Yes, and doing so is common for large product launches that need the enclosed hangar for controlled reveals plus the exterior space for guest arrival, vehicle displays, or overflow seating.
Does Barker Hangar work for entertainment-industry events specifically?
Yes, the venue has a long track record with entertainment-adjacent bookings, and its separate production and dressing rooms suit the talent-holding and green-room needs those programs typically require.