Chidlaw Building, Military office building in Colorado Springs, United States.
The Chidlaw Building is a multi-story office building on East Bijou Street in Colorado Springs, Colorado, originally built for military operations. It has underground levels and was constructed with reinforced walls and specialized technical systems to support its intended use.
The building was completed in 1961 and opened in 1962 as the headquarters for both the Air Defense Command and the North American Aerospace Defense Command. It served as a hub for continental air defense through the Cold War before eventually transitioning to civilian use.
The building is named after General Benjamin Chidlaw, who led North American air defense in the early Cold War years. Today the building has shifted from military to civilian use, though its heavy construction still reflects its original purpose.
The building sits on East Bijou Street in Colorado Springs and is easy to reach by car, with parking available nearby. Access to the interior may be limited, so the exterior is best viewed from the street.
A chair used by President John F. Kennedy during a military briefing held in the building is now on display at the Peterson Air and Space Museum. His visit was one of the few times a sitting US president came to this facility in person.
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