Not too long after winter break, Ohio University is hoping to fill College Green with sounds of celebration after two years of silence from its Galbreath Chapel.
OU is already accepting reservations for the 56-year-old chapel after the nearly two-year roof repair is completed Jan. 1. Six people have reserved events in the space so far.
The renovation cost about $1,250,000 and was primarily used to repair the gilded cupola ceiling from leaking water into the chapel, said Harry Wyatt, associate vice president for Facilities.
The chapel has been closed since pieces of plaster began falling from the ceiling in December 2011.
“I think people have a misconception,” said Dustin Kilgour, executive director of Event Services. “The major issue with the building was there was a major leak in the roof, so a lot of the moneys that were spent were more structural to get the building to where it was usable again.”
One of the renovation’s major obstacles was protecting the organ in the chapel, Wyatt said.
Facilities Management worked with the School of Music to protect the instrument, which included building a plywood box around the organ to keep dust out of its pipes and keys, Wyatt said.
Music students were also not allowed to practice the instrument while the construction was ongoing.
“We really tried to find a way to make that possible in the final determination, but the best thing to do was totally box up the organ,” Wyatt said.
After the contracting company finishes renovations sometime in late October, it will turn the building over to Event Services to purchase and arrange furnishings, Kilgour said.
Event Services plans to purchase new drapes, but will inspect Galbreath’s old pews and tables, stored at The Ridges’ Building 17, before purchasing new ones.
Whichever furnishings are purchased, the chapel will remain nondenominational, Kilgour said.
“Anyone who wants to use that for prayer, they’re welcome to do so,” Kilgour said. “I think it’s important on a college campus to have that (kind of space).”
Event Services is planning an opening reception at Galbreath over winter break, hosted by OU President Roderick McDavis, Kilgour said.
Some of the most common reservations of Galbreath Chapel range from weddings to fraternity and sorority rituals, Kilgour said.
Kilgour said the cost of renting Galbreath has not been decided, but the rental fee should not be very high for university affiliates, and the School of Music will not be charged to use the organ.
“What we do on a daily basis is help people with their events, help them plan it and give them whatever resources we can to help them put on the best event possible, be it a wedding or a meeting,” Kilgour said.
dk123111@ohiou.edu
@DanielleRose84
