Madera Cyber Innovation Center at the Colorado Springs United States Air Force Academy
The project was approached with constant collaboration between various stakeholders, including the US Army Corps of Engineers, Air Force Academy staff and faculty, and the Air Force Academy Foundation. The process of bringing the original concept design to a complete construction document set spanned over 18 months. However, the design continued to evolve throughout the project to ensure that the needs and vision of the Air Force Academy and the stakeholders were met.
The facility boasts many unique features such as a complex structural steel frame and a monumental cast-in-place multi-story spiral staircase. The almost all-glass exterior façade consists of several different glazing systems that were designed to reflect the history and look of the adjacent Cadet Area buildings. At the same time, they provide efficient energy performance and a modern aesthetic. Several historic finishes used in other parts of the campus were included in the project. These finishes include custom Italian glass mosaic tile, which was assembled piece-by-piece locally in Colorado Springs, Terrazzo concrete plaza paving, and granite paneling from the same quarry that has been manufacturing stone for the Academy for decades.
