Hangar 61 – Stapleton Fellowship Church

Journey back to 1959. Imagine the roar of engines at the old Stapleton International Airport. Right here stood Hangar 61, a marvel of engineering designed to house the Ideal Basic Cement Company’s Fairchild F-27. Today, the roar has been replaced by the uplifting sounds of Stapleton Fellowship Church. This unique structure, once home to airplanes, now shelters a vibrant community of faith. Hangar 61 stands as a testament to innovative design. The hyperbolic paraboloid roof, a thin shell of concrete spanning 160 feet without center supports, was the brainchild of Fisher, Fisher, and Davis and engineered by Milo Ketchum. It soars 33 feet at its apex, a diamond-shaped marvel. After the airport closed in 1995, Hangar 61 sat empty for over a decade. It faced demolition, labeled an eyesore. But its unique history and architectural significance couldn’t be ignored. In 2005, it was listed on Colorado’s Most Endangered Places List. This listing spurred its salvation. A partnership between Colorado Preservation, Inc. and a private developer paved the way for its rehabilitation. Then, in 2010, Stapleton Fellowship Church found its home within these historic walls. The church transformed the hangar, adding a 300-seat auditorium, a state-of-the-art stage, and spaces for children’s ministry and community gatherings. The old hangar doors remain, a tangible link to its past. The 14,000-square-foot building also houses the Terminal Café and Sky Lounge. Stapleton Fellowship Church embraced the hangar’s history, seeing its transformation as a metaphor for their own mission. From airplanes to a house of worship, Hangar 61’s journey reflects the enduring power of adaptation and community.