Houghton Memorial Chapel, one of Wellesley College’s most historic buildings, was designed in 1897 by the New York firm of Heins and LaFarge.  Throughout its years at Wellesley, the Chapel has grown into a Multi-faith church serving its diverse student body.  Ensuing renovations will mark Houghton Memorial Chapel’s 100th anniversary, celebrating both the building’s history as well as its renewed ccmmittment to the community’s varied religious and spiritual affiliations.

 

This project addresses  needs for repair and renovation which are required to meet the expanded Chaplaincy’s Program while providing barrier-free access to all the building’s major spaces.  The most crucial issue at the Chapel includes careful consideration of handicapped access with the new addition of an elevator, ramps, restrooms, and entry doors.  Other pertinent topics are distributed into three distinct phases of deferred maintenance, capital repairs, and capital improvements.

 

Deferred Maintenance issues encompass restoration of the exterior Ohio sandstone , Tiffany stain -glass  windows and cleaning of the interior walls and ceiling.  Capital repairs include renovation of the chapel red slate roof, including steeple and copings, laylight, and replacement of the wooden floor.  Capital improvements address lower chapel renovation for multi-faith worship rooms, lighting, acoustics system, and air quality.