Architectural Firm Designs Dining Hall for Air Force Academy

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.-Located in the Community Center area of the United States Air Force Academy, the Airman Dining Hall serves as the primary food service facility for the preparatory school as well as the dining facility of choice for airmen and private party military personnel.

A recent 24,859-square-foot, $5.8-million renovation project consisted of architectural and interior design improvements, modernization of the commercial kitchen with a new exhibition serving line, and complete renovation of a dining room, which included new furniture, fixtures, artwork, accessories, lighting and finish materials.

According to design firm Lantz-Boggio Architects, the client’s two main goals for the military dining hall renovation were, first, to provide quality food services that were equal to the best military dining facilities in the United States and, second, to provide a serving capacity of 600 to 700 meals three times a day, along with off-hour snacks, and meal availability. The academy requested three proposals that would portray a strong image of the military. Of the three themes proposed, Corporate, Festival and Upbeat Western Lodge, the latter design concept won and was integrated into the dining hall, which was originally designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill.

Administrators at Valley Crossing Community School, which serves students from three school districts, plan to use the service to address the school’s complex communication needs and to help eliminate confusion that comes from operating on three different schedules.

Both schools plan to use the service to keep parents informed about emergency as well as non-emergency situations, such as weather-related closings, bus delays, athletic practice cancellations and event updates.