Built in 1963, the Cadet Chapel is the crown jewel of the Air Force Academy and is the most-visited, man-made tourist attraction in the state of Colorado. Named a National Landmark in 2004 and known for its 17 striking spires, restoration of the Cadet Chapel is considered the United States’ most complex modernist preservation project ever.
Renovation of the Historic U.S. Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel in Colorado Springs, Colorado is significant as the Cadet Chapel is considered one of the most recognized icons in the U.S. and is the most visited Colorado landmark. The Cadet Chapel was built in 1963 and designed by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill of Chicago; it was named a U.S. National Historic Landmark in 2004. It is home to six worship spaces; a 1,950-pipe organ; and a 4,518-pipe organ. The Chapel stands 150 feet tall and is most known for its 17 metal spires, or tetrahedrons, enclosed with aluminum panels and Dalle de Verre stained glass. It includes a Protestant chapel, a Catholic chapel, a Jewish synagogue, a Muslim Mosque, a Buddhist temple, and All Faiths rooms. JE Dunn constructed a super structure over the Chapel to protect the building from weather as they disassembled the structure for refurbishing. The organs, Protestant chapel pews, and stained-glass windows were removed for refurbishment, preserving all original pieces and the history of the Chapel.
A massive temporary enclosure, often referred to as the “cocoon,” was constructed over the entire Chapel so restoration efforts could continue year-round, regardless of the region’s extreme weather conditions. The enclosure’s fabric wall system protects the project from the high winds and heavy snow yet filters light and offers clear lines of sight to construction activities within it.
Extensive offsite mockups were utilized to test the construction, deflection, water intrusion, and thermal performance of the proposed new building skin system. Key areas of the building façade were identified and meticulously reconstructed at an offsite testing facility. Mockups replicated the original tube steel building skeleton, which was then clad with the new aluminum weather-resistant panel and rain screen panel system, as well as the new sealant and support systems. These installations were tested under extreme conditions to imitate the Rocky Mountain Front Range environmental impacts on the Chapel. Lessons learned were incorporated into the final design of the building skin.
Historic elements, to include Protestant chapel pews, the pipe organs, and stained glass, were removed for refurbishment. JE Dunn worked with historic consultants, the design team, the National Parks Service, and our government partners to create separate removal, protection, restoration, and re-installation plans for each of these major historic building components. Replacement finishes and materials were carefully matched to original work, tested, and reviewed in various on- and off-site lighting conditions to ensure they represented the original construction in color, sheen, and texture. Both pipe organs – totaling nearly 6,500 pipes – were completely dismantled and shipped out of state for abatement, restoration, and re-assembly. Stained glass restoration included 2,240 sections or “cassettes” of over 24,000 individual Dalle de Verre stained glass blocks. Cassettes were documented in place; removed; shipped across state lines; cleaned and/or repaired; and shipped back for installation. All restoration efforts have been meticulously planned, executed, and documented. The end-result will be a full rebirth of the Chapel, restoring the building to its original glory visitors would have experienced at its initial opening.
