AF Academy Chapel restoration ensures long-term service to Cadet readiness
U.S. Air Force Academy — Cadets sit on the terrazzo with a view of the Cadet Chapel during the U.S. Air Force Academy’s Class of 2020 Graduation Ceremony at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., April 18, 2020. Nine-hundred-sixty-seven cadets crossed the stage to become the Air Force/Space Force’s newest second lieutenants. (U.S. Air Force photo/Trang Le)
AFIMSC Public Affairs
Editor’s Note: This is the first in a series of regular updates on the Cadet Chapel restoration project. Future updates will highlight key milestones and progress toward returning this historic landmark to cadets, families and visitors.
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – The Air Force is working closely with its primary contractor to accelerate restoration of the iconic Cadet Chapel at the U.S. Air Force Academy, underscoring the Service’s determination to return the national historic landmark to cadets, families, and visitors as quickly as possible.
Air Force Secretary Troy Meink’s guidance calls for expediting project execution by resolving process bottlenecks, streamlining contracting and funding actions, and ensuring accurate reporting of progress and risk to senior leadership.
Under Secretary Matt Lohmeier, himself an Academy graduate, toured the site this fall, pledging help to clear hurdles standing in the way of faster progress.
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. — Water testing on the chapel at United States Air Force Academy. Built in 1963, the chapel serves as an inter-faith house of worship, and a haven where Airmen gain or build on their spiritual resilience and contributes to the Academy’s mission of building the character of cadets and developing future Air Force and Space Force leaders. (U.S. Air Force photo/Dylan Smith)
“I am encouraged by the productive meetings I had with the leadership team from JE Dunn, USAFA, and AFIMSC,” said Lohmeier. “All parties are working urgently to accomplish a very important – albeit complicated – project with alacrity.”
Two of the Air Force Installation & Mission Support Center’s subordinate units, the Air Force Civil Engineer Center (AFCEC) and Air Force Installation Contracting Center (AFICC) are working closely with JE Dunn Construction to identify opportunities to accelerate schedules while maintaining the integrity of the complex restoration.
The United States Air Force Academy Chapel was built in 1962 in the modern architectural style and continues to be the distinguishing feature of the United States Air Force Academy, Colorado, Feb. 20, 2020. A four year collegiate institution, USAFA is home to nearly 4,000 Air Force Cadets. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. DaQuan Hurt)
The push for acceleration comes as the Chapel’s restoration efforts – already one of the most complex facility projects in Air Force history – clear two significant challenges, a larger than expected amount of asbestos abatement and original alignment deficiencies hidden by the exterior cladding. These unforeseen site conditions discovered in 2020 extended timelines and increased costs.
“This project is far more than a restoration, it’s a transformation,” said Maj. Gen. Thomas Sherman, Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center commander and Air Force Academy graduate. “As we address long‑standing issues, we’re committed to making permanent fixes, not temporary bandages. The Chapel’s significance in Air Force and the Academy’s history and culture means every solution must balance modern performance with respect for its legacy, adding a layer of complexity that makes this work both challenging and deeply meaningful. At the same time, we are committed to working hand in hand with JE Dunn to ensure the work is done correctly and completed as quickly as possible so we can return the Chapel to the Cadets and the American people.”
A white box encases the Cadet Chapel as extensive renovations continue at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo., July 23, 2025. The structure, erected in September 2019, allows work to proceed in harsh weather and has withstood winds up to 100 mph. (U.S. Air Force photo by Trevor Cokley)
Col. Bryan Cooper, AFCEC’s Chapel Restoration project manager, said the work is tackling long‑standing issues to include water damage caused by 1958 cost‑saving design choices. The Chapel’s complex geometry and glass‑and‑metal construction created thousands of seams that leaked, requiring constant maintenance. Over the years, temporary fixes proved ineffective, putting at risk the chapel’s role as a sacred space for cadets.
The Air Force awarded JE Dunn Construction an initial $152 million restoration contract in 2019, which included replacing the Chapel’s aluminum siding, installing a new water barrier, and restoring two organs, the pews, and 24,000 pieces of original stained glass.
Contractors conduct water-tightness testing on the exterior of the U.S. Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel, Dec. 16, 2025. The test involves spraying the chapel’s new exterior panels with water at 30 to 35 pounds per square inch while crews inside monitor for any signs of penetration. (U.S. Air Force photo by Dylan Smith)
Despite a detailed design and extensive asbestos testing, after removing the exterior shell unforeseen site conditions were uncovered, including steel framing flaws and far more asbestos than expected, increasing both cost and schedule.
Enclosed by a pre-engineered building, contractors are working year-round to restore the facility. This structure protects the chapel from the elements during construction and facilitates continuous work despite the area’s diverse weather patterns. Inside, crews are meticulously repairing decades of water damage, remediating environmental hazards, bringing the facility up to code, and correcting design flaws to restore the 52,000 square-foot chapel (with its 17 steel spires) to its full glory.
Organ components in the Catholic Chapel are reinstalled at the Cadet Chapel, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo. on July 15, 2025. The chapel’s abstract glass mosaic mural is visible in the background; its figures are crafted from Carrara marble, the same Italian stone used in world-famous sculptures such as Michelangelo’s David and Pietà. (U.S. Air Force photo by Trevor Cokley)
Today, work continues both inside and outside the enclosure. Crews are installing new weather‑resistant panels, customizing anchors, panels, and cladding to address alignment issues, updating various elements to meet today’s construction codes, and preparing for the reinstallation of stained glass, historic organs, and pews.
Other preservation efforts include the cleaning of all 24,000 stained‑glass panels, remaking damaged pieces using original molds, while specialists have restored both organs, reinstalling one and storing the other off-site until it can be reinstalled, as well as the Protestant and Catholic pews, Cooper said.
Jeremiah Hodges, an organ restorer with A.E. Schlueter Pipe Organ Company, reinstalls a wooden pipe into the Catholic organ in the Cadet Chapel at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo., July 15, 2025. A.E. Schlueter Pipe Organ Company is one of the 75 contractors/trade partners assisting JE Dunn Construction, the primary contractor hired to lead the Cadet Chapel renovation. (U.S. Air Force photo by Trevor Cokley)
“When the project is complete, the renovated Cadet Chapel will stand as both a testament to (architect) Walter Netsch’s original vision and to the Air Force’s commitment to preserving its heritage,” said Brig. Gen. Patrick Miller, AFCEC commander. “For cadets, families, and visitors, the chapel will continue to embody the Academy’s ingenuity, dedication to spiritual fitness, resilience, and the enduring values of service for generations to come.”
Immediately following the completion of the initial water resistive system, contractors began water testing the week of Dec. 15 to ensure the Chapel’s restorations are watertight, a critical step toward completion. Testing will resume the week of Jan. 12, 2026. More information about water testing will be shared in a future update.