Plans caved in for at least one couple attempting to get married in Galbreath Chapel after possible water damage caused a section of the roof to fall.
There is deteriorating plaster on the roof of the 54-year-old building that has caused “small pieces of plaster and paint chips” to fall, said Harry Wyatt, associate vice president for Facilities, in a university news release.
“To assure safety during the diagnostic and repair process, the decision was made to cancel or reschedule events slated to occur in the chapel so that guests would not be disrupted by scaffolding and noise,” Wyatt said.
The damage was discovered earlier this week.
The damage will delay the wedding of alumnus Chris Mackler, according to a post he wrote today on the Ohio University Alumni Association's Facebook page. His wedding was scheduled to be held in April in Galbreath Chapel, and he received notification today about the damage.
“Now we have to scramble around to find another venue at the last minute,” Mackler said. “We had previously expressed our concern of the condition of Galbreath, but nothing was done. Hoping they can get this historic building fixed soon.”
Mackler graduated from OU in 2008 and studied visual communication, according to his Facebook page.
The university does not yet know the extent of the repairs that will be needed or how long they will take, Wyatt said.
There are about 35 weddings held in Galbreath Chapel each year. A wedding planned for this weekend instead will be held in Walter Hall; one planned for next weekend will take place at The Ridges, said Jennifer Krisch, a communications specialist at OU.
Another couple that planned to marry at Galbreath Chapel in January has agreed to relocate the wedding, Krisch said.
She added that students sometimes use the chapel to practice playing the organ and that they will not have access to the chapel during construction.
OU Event Services contacted those who have made reservations for the chapel or who hold classes in it to inform them of the damage.
“Where possible, alternative venues have been identified or events have been canceled,” Wyatt said. "We thank the community for its patience as we address this unfortunate circumstance."
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