SerpApi.Org
The end is — finally — within sight for the Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel's renovation project.
Why it matters: The magnificent 150-foot-tall aluminum spires and interlocking tetrahedra are an iconic feature on the Pikes Peak skyline.
Driving the news: Brig. Gen. Pat Miller, commander of the Air Force Civil Engineer Center, outlined a new timeline for completion.
- He said the white covering should come down by July 2027, and the building will reopen for use in May 2028. The public opening may not come until August.
What he's saying: "We've worked really hard to take down barriers to get into the finances to make sure we're holding the contractor accountable, but also reducing the bureaucracy," Miller said.
Flashback: When the renovations started in 2019, officials expected it to take just four years and cost $69 million.
Reality check: Now, seven years later, the initial cost has ballooned fivefold to $335 million, the Gazette reports.
- And the white box protecting the structure throughout repairs is "an eyesore for the entire Colorado Springs community," said Zach Miller, a graduate, who spoke at the Academy's Board of Visitors meeting earlier this week.
