USAFA Flight Simulator Lab

SEC provided MEP engineering for the upgrade of simulator labs in Fairchild Hall at the US Air Force Academy. The facility supports the Department of Military and Strategic Studies, serving over 1,000 cadets annually with advanced Air-Space-Cyberspace learning capabilities. Total construction cost was $5,057,000.

Phase 1 involved remodeling approximately 6,250 square feet of existing classrooms and simulator labs into Battle Labs 2 and 3. The new spaces include simulator suites, an open office area, control room, and communications room housing 17 tactical manned flight simulators, 4 RPA (Remotely Piloted Aircraft) simulators, and 24 CAOC operational C2 simulator stations. The first two labs were completed in 2021.

The renovation required complete gut and rebuild with 1-hour fire-rated STC-50 assembly walls at the secure perimeter, 6-inch metal studs with plywood backing, and low voltage switchable glazing using electro-chromatic film. Lighting includes glare-free task lighting, instruction lighting, and color-changing red/green/blue lighting with a central lighting inverter for life safety. Independent power distribution from the basement substation feeds a raised floor system for simulator power, with chilled water cooling from existing Fairchild Hall systems.