CCLD skylight to be finished in Jan.

  • Published
  • By Amber Baillie
  • U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. --  Despite recent bone-chilling temperatures, construction on the Academy's Center for Character and Leadership Development is progressing, as construction crews work six days week to complete the building's steel tower before Dec. 25 and finish the glass skylight in January.

Approximately 175,000 man hours into the project and with more than 70 percent of the building completed, workers are expected to finish 12 of 18 levels to the 105-foot skylight this week.

"The skylight portion has been the most time consuming," said senior project manager Tom Rackley. "It's a unique and complicated structure. The steel was fabricated in the Czech Republic and the glass was fabricated in Austria. Getting all the pieces in and assembling it on site has been a challenge for us."

Workers are currently installing insulation of the skylight steel, communication cables, fire alarms, building power and all electrical panels and outlets. They're also laying tile in all bathroom units, Rackley said.

"The steel trusses are what we call the roof structure," he said. "It encloses the top of the skylight. It will also hold the oculus, a fiber glass structure. Viewers will be able to look through the oculus, and glass in the top of the roof to see Polaris (the North Star)."

The trusses have decreased in size throughout the project, allowing crews to install them quicker.

"We've been able to complete two levels a week," Rackley said. "The original trusses were eight-and-a-half tons each and now they're about two- to- two-and-a-half tons. They're much easier to handle and maneuver."

The insulated glass units will attach to the outside of the CCLD building, Rackley said.

"The glass won't be installed between the steel," he said. "The building will have a glass skin over it. It was designed that way to provide a better weather-tight structure."

Rackley said the building is divided into nine different areas and will consist of 35-45 rooms. The building will include communication rooms, a wing honor conference room, VIP suite for guest speakers, staff offices and more.

"After we complete the skylight, we'll finish all areas of the building by March, excluding the forum area," Rackley said. "We plan to have a beneficial occupancy by the end of April and complete the entire project around the middle of May."

The CCLD will be the second tallest building on the Academy, the first being the Chapel. The top of the skylight will be half way between the roof of Arnold Hall and the top of the Chapel spires.

"I think we have a good team," Rackley said. "Between us, the Air Force Civil Engineer Center, and Academy, I think we've tried to be good neighbors and minimize disruption to the ongoing mission here."