Polaris Hall – U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO
Photographed 2019
Photographed 2019
Designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) as the Center for Character & Leadership Development, Polaris Hall was completed in 2016. Its defining feature is the 105‑foot glass-and-steel skylight tower, precisely angled toward Polaris, the North Star, a powerful symbol of the Academy’s guiding values of truth and leadership. The project earned LEED Gold certification for its sustainable design and seamless integration with the USAFA campus.
For this series, I processed the images in ultra-high-contrast black and white to draw attention to the geometry of the glass tower and its direct connection to the open sky. These compositions explore the structure’s alignment, sharp planes, and interplay between transparency and light, while honoring its monumental presence.
Licensing & Prints
All public architectural images in this gallery are available for licensing. For usage inquiries, print requests, or to commission new architectural photography, please get in touch.
© 2019 JC Buck
