Danforth Chapel
12/1/06
Sixty years after its dedication, Danforth Chapel at the University of Kansas will undergo a major renovation and expansion.
Plans call for remodeling the historic chapel and adding 600 square feet of space onto the southeast side. The expansion will provide space for a "bride's room" for wedding preparations and accessible restrooms. It will replace a smaller structure currently attached to the building and will not affect the number of parking spaces at the chapel.
Renovations slated for chapel include repairing splits in the stone window jambs and plaster, providing light for the stained glass window, correcting drainage problems on the chapel grounds and replacing rotten wood beams.
The project is estimated to cost $850,000 and will be privately funded through gifts to KU Endowment, KU's fundraising foundation. More than $350,000 has been contributed toward the project so far. Construction is expected to begin in 2007.
In recent years, the wear and tear of age and use have pointed to a need to renovate the structure, said Warren Corman, university architect. A March 2006 microburst storm that moved through the campus heightened awareness of Danforth's precarious state when it destroyed the chapel's roof, forcing KU to close Danforth temporarily. The roof was repaired in the summer with private contributions.
Danforth Chapel was dedicated on April 2, 1946. Open to the public, the chapel has been the site for almost 5,000 weddings and serves as a place for quiet reflection and meditation.
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