Located at the North Gate of the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Hotel Polaris pairs contemporary hospitality with architecture designed for its distinctive Colorado setting. A prominent BEMO ETFE canopy at the hotel entrance creates a light-filled, weather-protected arrival experience while complementing the building’s modern façade.

The innovative canopy features a two-layer ETFE cushion system utilizing 250 μm clear foils. The fully transparent foils showcase the inflation of the individual cushions, turning the canopy’s high-performance construction into a striking architectural feature. The transparency also allows abundant natural light to reach the entrance below while maintaining an open visual connection to the building.

Beyond its visual impact, the BEMO canopy provides valuable protection from Colorado’s changing weather conditions without the visual weight of a more traditional opaque entrance structure. Its clean structural framework and transparent ETFE cushions create a contemporary solution that integrates naturally with the hotel’s architecture.

Powers Products provided the BEMO ETFE canopy solution, bringing together daylighting, weather protection and innovative material technology in a highly visible application. The result is a welcoming entrance that demonstrates how ETFE can deliver both architectural expression and practical performance.