USAFA Cyberworx

At the heart of the U.S. Air Force Academy’s expanding campus in Colorado Springs, Colorado, the newly completed Madera Cyber Innovation Center stands as a symbol of cutting-edge design, collaboration, and transparency. Designed to foster creativity and innovation, the building houses advanced laboratories, classrooms, and collaborative innovation spaces designed to foster next-generation cyber research and development.

Designed by Clark Nexsen, the Madera Cyber Innovation Center features a striking structural glass façade that was engineered, manufactured, and supplied by Sentech Architectural Systems. The façade is comprised of four structural glass walls – for the two 206-ft long facade walls and two 100-ft long front and rear façades, Sentech’s VetraFin-A Series system was chosen for its sleek, minimalist aesthetic and advanced performance capabilities. The use of high-performance, tinted insulated glass units and clerestory glazing throughout maximizes natural daylight penetration, reduces reliance on artificial lighting, and maintains strict solar control. These efforts support the project’s emphasis on sustainability and occupant comfort. Designed to meet LEED Silver certification; this project complies with USAF sustainability standards.

The high wind speeds in the area required using nearly 2” thick laminated-insulated glass and horizontal aluminum mullions with coped joints where they meet the vertical fins. This aluminum fin-supported glass façade system delivers a clean, uninterrupted appearance without visible exterior hardware, bolts, or plates. Its design accommodates a wide range of glass types including monolithic, laminated, and insulated glass, allowing for performance customization such as blast and ballistic resistance, overhead glazing, and floor or façade applications. The VetraFin-A Series system offers unparalleled flexibility in finish options and can be used with insulated units up to 60-feet tall. Additionally, 120 linear ft of laminated glass guardrail with cantilever aluminum fin support and a sharp-cornered top rail surrounds the balcony.

The Innovation Center enhances the U S. Air Force Academy’s cyber education and R&D capability, especially with rising demands in cyber and AI/ future conflict domains and advances USAFA’s long-term mission readiness. The Cyber Innovation Center not only strengthens the Academy’s position as a leader in cyber education but also sets a precedent for sustainable, resilient military facilities. By integrating energy-efficient systems, daylighting, flexible infrastructure, and water stewardship, the building reduces operational costs and environmental footprint.

“The Madera Cyber Innovation Center positions the Academy as an innovation hub, revolutionizing the employment of cyber and artificial intelligence technologies to ready cadet leaders for the future fight,” said Dressler. “The collaboration space will bring academia, industry and military operators together to educate and train the Air and Space Forces’ future officers as forward-thinking leaders in advanced technological warfare.”

–  Col. Judson Dressler, Academy permanent professor and head of the Department of Computer and Cyber Sciences.