Original USAFA design team-member stages visit

  • Published
  • By Harry Lundy
  • U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. --  One of the Air Force Academy's original architects stopped here Feb. 26 to see the Cadet Chapel and meet the Academy Superintendent.

Ralph Youngren, 90, said visiting the Cadet Chapel again was something he had to check off his "bucket list."

"I love visiting the Academy because the buildings are still beautiful," said the former Skidmore, Owings and Merrill architect. SOM is the Academy's original design firm. "Everything is neat and clean."

During his tour of the Chapel, Youngren shared anecdotes with the staff, describing the popping sound of the aluminum being the sound of angel wings and the significance of the 17 spires.

"I told a congressman they stood for the 12 disciples and the five voting members in Congress who approved this project," he said.

Youngren met Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Michelle D. Johnson in her office to discuss his design of the cadet area. 

The superintendent said Youngren helped the Academy become one of Colorado's most popular landmarks.  

General Johnson thanked Youngren for his and his fellow designer's "foresight in creating a campus that inspires innovation and serves as a testament to the Air Force's role in modernizing the Profession of Arms."

Youngren enjoyed being able to spend time with the superintendent.

"I think the superintendent is a wonderful general and leader," he said. "I love the way she is moving this institution forward in the 21st century."

For the final portion of the visit, Academy architect Duane Boyle showed Youngren the three original designs for the Center for Character and Leadership building here that were voted on, and took his family on a tour of the nearly-completed building.

"It's amazing," Youngren said. "You're using new materials, construction and design techniques, but the building still fits the original design of the Academy."

Boyle, who has known Youngren for 20 years, talked about the original design of the Academy and his deep respect for him.

"He was one of the incredible people who created the USAFA design and helped make Skidmore, Owings and Merrill's mid-century reputation become worldwide," he said.

Boyle spoke about how incredible it is that we can still talk to the architects. It shows how quickly their design was accepted as one of the most important and recognized assemblages of modernist architecture worldwide, he said.

After his tenure at SOM, Youngren created the award-winning Chicago architectural firm of Metz, Train and Youngren, and served as the chairman of the American Institute of Architects National Design Committee.