University Chapel to Receive Gallery Update and Preservation Repairs The work begins this fall and will bring the Chapel offline for a portion of the academic year.

By Brian Laubscher
March 17, 2025

Washington and Lee will be undertaking significant renovations to University Chapel, including updates to the large gallery on the lower level, a modernization of the building’s HVAC system and an expansion of the fire and life safety system.

The two projects are expected to be implemented simultaneously and will begin in October, following the University’s 2025 Opening Convocation and kickoff events. Both levels of the building will be closed for up to six months while the work is underway.

“As a National Historic Landmark, the Chapel has a rich and unique story. This spans a long period from its initial construction in the 1860s until now, and that history is an important part of our campus fabric,” said Matt Davis, director of the Institutional History Museum at W&L since July 2024. “The project will ensure the long-term preservation and conservation, not only of the building itself, but the collections contained within. Additionally, it will provide a safer and more welcoming environment for our campus community and visitors from all over the world.”

The exhibit in the main gallery, which opened in 2007 and closed in 2020, will be updated to complement exhibits planned for the forthcoming Institutional History Museum. The work will also incorporate modern cabinetry lighting and enhanced illustrative technology and resources. This portion of the renovations will be handled by the Gallagher & Associates design agency with support from Davis and in conjunction with work currently being performed by the Museum Working Group. The construction firm Kjellstrom + Lee will be responsible for the HVAC, fire and life safety systems.

“The work will take a minimally invasive approach and will be in accordance with preservation treatment standards as defined by the Secretary of the Interior,” said Tom Kalasky, executive director of university facilities. “As stewards of this National Historic Landmark, we want to take an approach that will ensure the Chapel’s historic fabric is protected and preserved.”

Originally constructed in 1867, University Chapel has received several structural and cosmetic renovations over the years, from the addition of the annex in 1883, to the 1962 restoration completed with the support of the Ford Motor Company Fund. Recent work has included the 2022 remodel of the auditorium as directed by the Board of Trustees, recent trimming of the iconic exterior ivy and a replacement of the Chapel’s foundation plantings. The Chapel Galleries have also received periodic updates, including new exhibits in the large gallery in 1998 and 2007 and the addition of the “Setting the Stage: A Glimpse Inside 150 Years of the University Chapel Auditorium” exhibit in 2021. The galleries also include the statue chamber, Robert E. Lee’s office, and the Lee family crypt, all of which are open to the public during normal operating hours until the building closes in the fall and will remain in place thereafter.

“It’s been over 15 years since we have refreshed the exhibit in the large gallery, and this is a great opportunity to update both the aesthetics and information it presents,” said Davis. “This work will provide additional context and contribute to the broader story of the Chapel, for the benefit of both our university community and the general public.”