Christendom College Chapel

At nearly 24,000 square-feet, the gothic-style Catholic chapel will more than double the seating capacity of the current chapel to 750 seats. Its 130-foot gothic bell tower will proudly stand at the highest point of Christendom College and be visible for miles across the Shenandoah Valley.

The chapel will have a traditional cruciform structure, with a beautiful high altar, handcrafted in Italy in the early 20th century at the center, and an exquisite hand-crafted organ with over 2,600 pipes. The chapel will also feature new artwork crafted to reflect the timeless traditions found in the great cathedrals of Western Europe and restored traditional sacred art rescued from abandoned historic churches throughout the United States. The new chapel will include over 50 stained glass windows imported from Bavaria and depicting both the history and future of Catholic art.

The original architectural design was highly detailed and ornate but was projected to exceed the amount the college had raised for the project. The University President and advisory board were in love with O’Brien & Keane’s design and did not want to cheapen anything aesthetically. Hoar entered into a preconstruction agreement and went to work. Our team contacted nearly 400 trade partners to seek the best pricing possible to move forward. In addition, we developed over $3 million of value-added engineering varying from HVAC systems, roof materials, stone alternate, facade structures, flooring, structure, and electrical options. Our due diligence allowed us to meet the college’s budget and to move forward with the construction of this new house of worship.

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Owner

Christendom College

Square Feet

24,000

Architect

O’Brian & Keane

Location

Front Royal, Virginia

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