The Air Force Academy's Cadet Chapel, the iconic triangular structure prominently located in its cadet area, will close for an expected two years of major renovations in 2018.
Academy superintendent Lt. Gen. Michelle Johnson said in her annual "State of USAFA" address Tuesday that repairs to the nearly 53-year-old chapel are long overdue.
"It has leaked consistently since it was constructed," Johnson said.
The 150-foot-high chapel will close in summer of 2018 and is likely to remain closed through the summer of 2020, Johnson said.
In the meantime, cadets who wish to worship will be able to do so at alternate venues, she said.
And the academy is looking for a way to continue allow visitors to see parts of the chapel while the repairs are ongoing, Johnson said. That could include displaying artwork from the chapel elsewhere, or filming a walking tour so visitors can virtually tour the chapel from the academy's visitor's center, she said.
"We're going to have creative ways to use technology to not lose sight of our chapel," Johnson said.
Stephen Losey is the air warfare reporter for Defense News. He previously covered leadership and personnel issues at Air Force Times, and the Pentagon, special operations and air warfare at Military.com. He has traveled to the Middle East to cover U.S. Air Force operations.
