United States Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel

United States Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel

United States Air Force
Colorado Springs, CO

Architect of Record: AECOM
Historic Preservation Architect: Hartman-Cox Architects

A four-year restoration project on the Cadet Chapel began in the summer of 2018. The Cadet Chapel, completed in 1962 by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill of Chicago, is the distinguishing feature of the United States Air Force Academy. The Chapel was awarded the American Institute of Architect's National Twenty-five Year Award in 1996 and was named a US National Historic Landmark in 2004.

AECOM performed design repairs to the 50 year-old structure, combined with Hartman-Cox fulfilling the significant role of Historic Preservation consultant. The principle design elements consisted of repairs to the building envelope, the mechanical and electrical systems, the exterior snow melt systems, and architectural interior finishes. Along with fixing the building skin leakage, the chapel's aluminum housing was replaced, the structure reinforced, a redundant water installed, and the 24,000 stained glass pieces removed and cleaned. The interior also received meticulous treatment, including the pipe organ which was restored.