Walter A. Netsch Jr., Cadet Chapel (1959) Looking more like a space-age battleship than a house of worship from certain angles, architect Walter A. Netsch Jr.’s futuristic temple is an angular assemblage of five-ton metal tetrahedrons, built out of the same aluminum panels as jet fighter wings. Winner of the American Institute of Architects' 25 Year Award and a United States National Historic Landmark, the set of 17 spires might as well be a squadron screaming towards the heavens. Photo courtesy David, Creative Commons Photo 5 of 10 in 10 Inspiring Modern Churches

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Looking more like a space-age battleship than a house of worship from certain angles, this futuristic 1959 chapel is an angular assemblage of five-ton metal tetrahedrons, built out of the same aluminum panels as jet fighter wings. The ecclesiastical building, located at the U.S. Air Force Academy near Colorado Springs, Colorado, won the American Institute of Architects’ 25 Year Award and is now a U.S. National Historic Landmark. Its set of 17 spires might as well be a squadron screaming toward the heavens.