The U.S. Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel rises 150 feet into the thin Colorado air, its 17 gleaming spires echoing the jagged peaks of the Rocky Mountains, jet formations in flight and sabres held high in salute.

The Chapel was the centerpiece of a bold vision. After winning a fiercely competitive national design contest for the Air Force Academy, the renowned Chicago firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill entrusted 34-year-old architect Walter Netsch with the task of designing its signature structure. The result was a strikingly modern chapel unlike anything seen before. Though now hailed as an architectural icon, the design initially sparked fierce controversy. In the late 1950s, critics — some in Congress — derided it as "a shocking fiasco," an "accordion" or even a "skating rink" unfit for worship. Despite the backlash and a temporary pause in funding, Netsch and his team stood firm.

Constructed by the Robert E. McKee Construction Company of Santa Fe, New Mexico, the Chapel was built between 1959 and 1963 at a cost of $3.5 million for the structure alone. Furnishings, organs and other interior features were funded by private donations. On Easter Sunday, 1959, offerings were collected on Air Force bases around the world to support the project. The Chapel was officially dedicated on Sept. 22, 1963.

Clad in aluminum, glass and steel, the Cadet Chapel quickly became the most visited man-made attraction in Colorado, earning numerous architectural awards and appearing in countless publications celebrating its bold aesthetic.

In 2019, the Chapel closed for a multi-year renovation aimed at addressing long-standing structural issues — most notably persistent leaks that dated back to its construction. The restoration involves stripping the structure down to its steel frame, a stark image reminiscent of early 1960s construction photos. Once complete, the Chapel will not only retain its iconic form but finally fulfill the promise of its ambitious, enduring design.