Randolph Field was innovatively designed using Garden city movement principles, and includes a unique and well-preserved assemblage of Mission Revival and Art Deco architecture.

Some flight training operations were maintained at a variety of temporary facilities around the nation into the early 1920s, while a debate took place over the status of the air corps as part of the United States Army.

In 1926, the War Department decided to centralize flight training operations, and the Randolph site northeast of San Antonio was identified in 1927.

The design also addressed army concerns over the impact of long taxi distances (which increased exposure of the aircraft to dust, resulting in higher maintenance costs) by placing rows of hangars parallel to the field's two runways.

Their orientation in circular bands eliminates the procession of architecture often found on military bases, and there is individual variation among the buildings, with wings placed on different ends, and the exterior stucco given different coloring.