Buckley Air Force Base is home to more than 10,000 men and women who provide global surveillance, worldwide missile warning, homeland defense, and expeditionary forces. More than 37 other units representing every branch of service--active duty, National Guard and reserve—are also located here.

Buckley Air Force Base Chapel is the primary religious facility. Designed to accommodate all faiths, the main chapel seats 800. There is also overflow seating in the gathering space. The building also includes offices, meeting rooms, and a carillon. The building design reflects aeronautical themes and takes advantage of abundant natural light and dramatic views of the Rocky Mountains.

Words and music are clear, thanks to Shen Milsom & Wilke’s acoustic design. Ceiling clouds below the exposed roof structure and over the chancel canopy maintain speech intelligibility but allow music to reverberate throughout the fan-shaped interior space. Absorptive panels on the curved rear walls control sound reflections.

The worship area utilizes a point source audio system and speakers. An audio mixing console is located in the worship space, while multimedia controls are in a separate room adjacent to the sanctuary. A wireless intercom system allows coordination between the two control spaces.

Shen Milsom & Wilke’s design work included audio, multimedia, and performance lighting systems that allow the chancel area to be transformed, when needed, into a performance platform. The worship area is equipped with 50 circuits of performance lighting. Five suspended light bars highlight the chancel area. The system is controllable either from the house-light master control station or a lighting console in the multimedia control room.

The project received an honor award in the 2006 U.S. Air Force Design Awards.

Photo by Paul Kohlman

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