United States Air Force Academy Foundation Wecker Hall & Yost Plaza

Leading the future of military sustainability through innovation, efficiency, and community-focused design.

Wecker Hall and Yost Plaza serve as the home of the Air Force Academy Foundation and a new hub for innovation, collaboration, and community engagement on the U.S. Air Force Academy campus. Designed to demonstrate what is possible through high-performance building strategies, the facility establishes a new benchmark for sustainable design within the U.S. Air Force.

As the first net-zero energy building on a U.S. Air Force campus, Wecker Hall incorporates a range of advanced systems that dramatically reduce energy consumption while maintaining a comfortable and functional environment. A geothermal system featuring twenty 505-foot-deep wells utilizes the Earth’s stable temperatures to provide highly efficient heating and cooling. Renewable energy is supplied through a rooftop solar array, while a high-performance building envelope with R-50 roof insulation and R-25 wall assemblies minimizes heat transfer and reduces energy demand.

Together, these systems make the facility significantly more efficient than a conventional building, consuming approximately one-quarter of the energy typically required for a structure of its size. The result is a forward-thinking facility that supports the Air Force Academy Foundation’s mission while showcasing the potential of sustainable design, operational efficiency, and environmental stewardship.

This project received the 2025 Bronze ACE Award from Associated General Contractors (AGC) of Colorado.