US Air Force Academy Air Gardens + Cadet Chapel Restoration Hard Hat Tour

✦ About the Talk + Tour ✦

We will begin with a brief history of the United States Air Force Academy campus, Air Garden, and Cadet Chapel prior to the walking tour of the Cadet Chapel restoration site and Air Garden. The presentation will include physical parts of the building that haven’t been seen for over 60 years, close up viewing of a restored stain glass Dalle de Verre strip window, and details of the extensive matching that is taking place for all elements that are visible to the public, down to matching screw heads to replicate the originals used on the building. The tour will take you from the exterior of the amazing skeletal structure of the chapel to the breathtaking views of the Air Garden. Photography is permitted, but cannot be publicly shared or posted to social media.

✦ About the Cadet Chapel ✦

Currently undergoing a massive restoration project and enclosed in a giant temporary structure, The United States Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel is one of the most iconic modern buildings in Colorado. The chapel was completed in 1962 and was designed by Walter Netsch of Skidmore, Owings and Merrill. It was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 2004 and is considered a prime example of modernist architecture. The Cadet Chapel’s unique design features 17 spires and a steel frame that is composed of 100 identical tetrahedrons, each 75 feet long.

✦ About the Air Garden ✦

Beyond the Chapel is the recently restored United States Air Force Academy Air Garden designed by esteemed modernist landscape architect Dan Kiley. The gridded design of the Air Garden features a central parade ground, tree-lined walkways, and a series of reflective pools with fountains.

Both designs exist in the context of the USAFA campus, which is itself a masterwork of modern architecture of the highest order.

✦ About the Tour Guides ✦

Duane Boyle is the longtime Campus Architect for the United States Air Force Academy and continues in that role today. He oversees all master planning and design on the iconic Air Force Academy campus comprising 18,500 acres. After attending the University of Colorado and receiving his Bachelor of Environmental Design, Master of Architecture, and Master of Public Administration degrees, Duane worked for Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (SOM) prior to starting at the Academy and shortly after developed a friendship with Walter Netsch, Jr. who, for SOM, was in charge of the design of the campus specifically designing the Cadet Chapel himself.

Marty Rickett joined JE Dunn in 1995 and has since made a notable impact on the landscape in Southern Colorado working in virtually every market sector from healthcare to higher education. He has had the privilege of delivering projects for numerous repeat clients including the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Parkview Medical Center, UCHealth Memorial Hospital, and the University of Colorado Colorado Springs. Currently, Marty is serving on the team to restore the historic United States Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel, his fourth project at the Air Force Academy, a project that he considers to be the apex of his career.

✦ Accessibility ✦

This tour will not have wheelchair access or areas to rest during the tour. The cadet chapel is an active construction site and therefore we will require long pants and sleeved shirts. A site access release form will also be required to tour the building.

******* IMPORTANT *******

This is an active construction site and anything can happen. PPE (hard hat, safety vest, safety glasses and gloves) is required for this tour. Docomomo will have loaner sets available for use, but if you would prefer to bring your own, please do so.

For safety purposes, attendees’ clothing must adhere to the following guidelines:

• Closed-toe sturdy shoes: Boots do not have to be steel toe. Hiking boots are permitted if they are durable and at least ankle high. Tennis shoes, high heels, sandals, flip flops, and fashion boots are not acceptable footwear for the tour.
• Full-length pants or jeans: Pants must be long enough to touch the top of your shoes. Shorts, capri pants, skirts and dresses should not be worn.
• Long-sleeve shirts

Parking & Meeting Location: Information will be sent to attendees upon the purchase of tour tickets.

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Host or Publisher Docomomo US/Colorado