United States Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel

Infobox building
building_name = United States Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel

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caption = The Cadet Chapel
building_type = Chapel
architectural_style = Modern
structural_system =
location = U.S. Air Force Academy,
near Colorado Springs, CO
coordinates =
start_date = 1955
completion_date = 1962
demolition_date =
height = 150 feet
floor_count = 2 floors
main_contractor = Robert E. McKee, Inc.
architect = Walter Netsch, Jr.,
Skidmore, Owings and Merrill
structural_engineer =
services_engineer =
civil_engineer =
other_designers =
quantity_surveyor =
awards = AIA National 25 Year Award
U.S. National Historic Landmark, 2004

The United States Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel, completed in 1962, is the distinguishing feature of the Cadet Area at the United States Air Force Academy. It was designed by renowned architect Walter Netsch of Skidmore, Owings and Merrill of Chicago. Construction was accomplished by Robert E. McKee, Inc., of Santa Fe, New Mexico. Originally controversial in its design, the Cadet Chapel has become a classic and highly regarded example of modernist architecture. The Cadet Chapel was awarded the American Institute of Architects' National 25 Year Award in 1996http://www.som.com/content.cfm/united_states_air_force_academy_cadet_chapel] , and as part of the Cadet Area, was named a U.S. National Historic Landmark in 2004.

Architecture and construction

The most striking aspect of the Chapel is its row of seventeen spires. The original design called for nineteen spires, but this number was reduced due to budget issues. [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,827477,00.html] The structure is a tubular steel frame of 100 identical tetrahedrons, each 75 feet long, weighing five tons, and enclosed with clear aluminum panels. The panels were fabricated in Missouri and shipped by rail to the site. The tetrahedrons are spaced a foot apart, creating gaps in the framework that are filled with one-inch thick colored glass. The tetrahedrons comprising the spires are filled by triangular clear aluminum panels, while the tetrahedrons between the spires are filled with a mosaic of colored glass in aluminum frame.

The Cadet Chapel itself is 150 feet high, 280 feet long, and 84 feet wide. The front façade, on the south, has a wide granite stairway with steel railings capped by aluminum handrails leading up one story to a landing. At the landing is a band of gold anodized aluminum doors, and gold anodized aluminum sheets apparently covering original windows.

The shell of the chapel and surrounding grounds cost $3.5 million to build. [http://www.usafa.af.mil/superintendent/pa/factsheets/chapel.htm USAFA Cadet Chapel Fact Sheet, Apr. 2006, available at http://www.usafa.af.mil/superintendent/pa/factsheets/chapel.htm] ] Various furnishings, pipe organs, liturgical fittings and adornments of the chapel were presented as gifts from various individuals and organizations. In 1959, a designated Easter offering was also taken at Air Force bases around the world to help complete the interior.

Worship areas

The Cadet Chapel was designed specifically to house three distinct worship areas under a single roof. Inspired by chapels at Sainte-Chapelle in France and the Basilica of San Francesco d'Assisi in Italy, architect Walter Netsch stacked the spaces on two main levels. [http://www.nps.gov/nhl/designations/samples/co/USAFA.pdf] The Protestant nave is located on the upper level, while the Catholic and Jewish chapels and one all-faiths room are located beneath it. Beneath this level is a larger all-faiths room and two meeting rooms. Each chapel has its own entrance, and services may be held simultaneously without interfering with one another.

Protestant chapel

The Protestant Chapel is located on the main floor, and is designed to seat 1200 individuals. The nave measures 64 by 168 feet, reaching up to 94 feet at the highest peak. The center aisle terminates at the chancel.

The Chapel's tetrahedrons form the walls and the pinnacled ceiling of the Protestant Chapel. Stained glass windows form ribbons of color between the tetrahedrons, and progress from darker to lighter as they reach the altar. The chancel is set off by a crescent-shaped, varicolored reredos behind the altar. Semi-precious stones from Colorado and pietra santa marble from Italy cover its 1,260 square-foot area. The focal point of the chancel is a 46-foot high aluminum cross suspended above it. The pews are made of American walnut and African mahogany. The ends of the pews were sculpted to resemble World War I airplane propellers. The backs of the pews are capped by a strip of aluminum similar to the leading edge of a fighter aircraft wing.

Above the narthex, in the rear, is a choir balcony and organ, designed by Walter Holtkamp of the Holtkamp Organ Company, and built by M. P. Moller Company of Hagerstown, Maryland. The organ has 83 ranks and 67 stops controlling 4,334 pipes. Harold E. Wagoner designed the liturgical furnishings for both the the Protestant and Catholic chapels.

Catholic chapel

The Catholic Chapel is located below the Protestant Chapel, and seats approximately 500 people. The nave is 56 feet wide, 113 feet long and 19 feet high. The focal point of the Catholic Chapel is the reredos behind the altar. An abstract glass mosaic mural, designed by Luman Martin Winter, the reredos is composed of varying shades of blue, turquoise, rose and gray tessera to form a portrayal of the firmament. Superimposed on the mural and depicting the Annunciation are two 10-foot tall marble figures, the Virgin Mary on the left, and the Archangel Gabriel on the right. Above and between these two figures is a marble dove.

In front of the reredos is the altar, a gift from the late Francis Cardinal Spellman, who dedicated the Catholic Chapel on Sept. 22, 1963. The altar is Italian white marble mounted on a marble cone-shaped pedestal. Above the altar is a six-foot sculptured nickel-silver crucifix. Along the side walls of the chapel are the 14 Stations of the Cross, also designed by Lumen Martin Winter, and carved from four-inch thick slabs of marble. The figures are done in Carrera marble, from the same quarries where Michelangelo drew his stone. The classical pipe organ, in the 100-seat choir loft, was designed by Walter Holtkamp and built by M. P. Moller Co. It features 36 ranks and 29 stops controlling its 1,950 pipes.

Jewish chapel

The Jewish Chapel is also on the lower level. Seating 100, it is circular in shape, with a diameter of 42 feet and a height of 19 feet. It is enclosed by a vertical grill with inserts of clear glass opening to the foyer. The circular form and transparent walls were used to suggest a tent-like structure. The floor is paved with Jerusalem brownstone, donated by the Israeli Defense Forces.

The walls of the foyer are purple stained glass panels alternating with green and blue stained accent windows. The circular walls of the synagogue are panels of translucent glass separated by stanchions of Israeli cypress. The paintings, done by Shlomo Katz in 1985 and 1986, depict a Biblical story. They are divided into three groups; brotherhood, flight (in honor of the Air Force) and justice.

The focal point of the Jewish Chapel is the Aron Kodesh, which shelters the Scrolls of the Torah. The Ner Tamid hangs to the right of the Ark. In the foyer of the chapel is a display cabinet with a Torah Scroll that was saved from the Nazis during World War II. It was found in Poland in 1989 in an abandoned warehouse and donated to the Jewish Chapel in April 1990. This "Holocaust Torah" is dedicated to the memory of all of those who fought against the Nazis.

All-faiths rooms

The All-Faiths Rooms are worship areas for smaller religious groups. They are purposely devoid of religious symbolism so that they may be used by a variety of faiths. Distinguishing faith-specific accouterments are available for each group to use during their worship services.

References

External Links

* [http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/Air_Force_Academy_Chapel.html Great Buildings Online entry]
* [http://www.som.com/content.cfm/united_states_air_force_academy_cadet_chapel Skidmore, Owings and Merrill page]
* [http://www.nps.gov/nhl/designations/samples/co/USAFA.pdf USAFA Cadet Area National Historic Landmark nomination package]