The existing athletic and recreation facilities at the Air Force Academy lacked adequate space to provide individual fitness training for cadets, and the historic gymnasium building was in need of an expansion to improve program offerings.
Major interior spaces include a two-story weight training room (dominated by a glass curtain wall) and fencing practice gym. Plenty of space is dedicated to strength equipment to support the rigorous physical requirements for cadets. A two-story climbing wall also is incorporated into the space, adjacent to the second-story fitness mezzanine, which opens to the weight training room below on one side and the fencing practice gym on the other. A glass wall provides acoustic separation from the practice gym.
Interior finishes were selected for their functionality and durability and create an open and utilitarian aesthetic that supports the training mission of the academy. Exposed ceilings are painted a neutral color to emphasize the height and openness of the space.
The Air Force Academy campus is a designated National Historic Landmark District, with prominent examples of the Modern Movement in Architecture. As a result, the fitness center addition was required to seamlessly blend with the existing design aesthetic and respect the architectural context of the campus.
NRH Centre
