The Heritage of the United States Air Force Academy

An Interview with Walter A. Netsch, Director of Architectural Design Team

Walter Netsch had primary responsibility for the architectural design of the Air Force Academy including the cadet chapel. He was born in Chicago in 1920 and received a bachelor of architecture degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1943. He served in the Army Corps of Engineers during World War II, then returned to Chicago and worked with the Morgan Yost firm. He joined Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill in San Francisco in 1947, designed air bases in Japan and Okinawa during the Korean War, and moved to the firm’s Chicago office in 1954, shortly before the beginning of the competition for design of the Air Force Academy. His other important designs include the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, the Inland Steel Building in Chicago, the Regenstein Libraries at Northwestern University and the University of Chicago, and the East Wing of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Interview conducted by Colonel James Gaston, USAF (Ret.) on May 15-16, 2002

The complete interview is preserved on three DVDs. Selected clips below.

DVD One

How did Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill win the contract to design the Academy?

Additional Questions Addressed on DVD One

How did earlier experiences help you as you designed the Academy?

Could you describe a typical week of working with your design team?

How did you work with the Air Force Construction Agency?

How would you describe the contributions of Belluschi, Becket, and Saarinen?

How did you decide where to put the main facilities?

How did you conceive of the basic orientation of the cadet area?

How would you describe your working relationship with General Harmon?

What were your principal considerations in the design of the dormitories?

How did you choose the construction materials?

What were your principal considerations in the design of the dining hall?

DVD Two

What were your principal considerations in the design of the social center?

How did you respond to criticism of your design for the social center?

What were your principal considerations in the design of the academic building?

What are your memories of the public exhibitions of the plans for the Academy?

How did you respond to criticism of your plans?

How did you develop the design for the Cadet Chapel?

Did the reduction in funds for the Chapel require any changes to the design?

How did you work with Dan Kiley on the landscaping?

What special challenges do you recall from the time of construction?

DVD Three

How close did the completed project come to your vision?

Additional Questions Addressed on DVD Three

What do you recall about your first impression of the building site?

How concerned were you about possible commercial and residential encroachment?

What were your principal considerations in planning for family housing?

Did you experience any difficulties after the project was finished?

How would you describe your relationship with the Air Force secretaries?

Mr. Owings sent you to Europe to escape pressure. How else did you deal with the stress?

How did the expansion affect your original design?

How would you describe the influence of the Academy project on your career?

Is the design “timeless?” Would it differ significantly if you were to do it today?