U.S. Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel – A Masterpiece of Digital Beauty

📍 Location: USAF Academy, Colorado Springs, CO Architectural Icon by SOM As the centerpiece of SOM's master plan for the U.S. Air Force Academy, this chapel redefines sacred architecture with mathematical precision and aerospace symbolism. Design Breakdown ✝️ 17 Spires of Light: Composed of 100 tetrahedrons each, clad in shimmering aluminum and stained glass panels Soars 150 feet tall—evoking both fighter jet formations and Gothic cathedral verticality 🌈 Light as Worship: Continuous glass membranes refract light into spectral patterns across the interior Cold, sharp geometries mirror aviation's technical rigor (materials: aluminum, steel, glass) Functional Poetry Multi-faith spaces stacked vertically (Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, Buddhist chapels) Acoustic perfection—whispered prayers carry 100 feet in the silent upper chapel #ModernArchitecture #SOM #MilitaryDesign #ColoradoArchitecture