Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church’s Kirkland Chapel, site of countless weddings, worship services, and concerts, has lately taken on a different atmosphere. A four-story tall scaffolding structure now stands in the middle of the chapel, with a bridge to the organ loft. The sacred space’s serene and contemplative illumination has been replaced by bright floodlights. Protective wooden panels cover the chapel’s memorial plaques and delicate wood carvings.

In short, the chapel’s renovation is in great shape.

Investigating every corner

“We’re making good progress on the renovation,” says Bob Henn, chair of the chapel renovation task force. “The scaffolding in the chapel allows our contractors to open the ceiling, evaluate its condition, and inspect the pipes and plaster. With any project this size, there are always discoveries of issues that need addressing. Our team has been very diligent in evaluating and fixing things in this 100-year-old building.”

Workers are investigating every corner of the chapel, from the highest ceiling square to the structure under the floor. Crews have probed the chapel’s trademark columns to test the steel within. With a new organ slated to be installed as part of the chapel’s renovation, the supports
beneath the organ loft needed to be uncovered and tested. This work spread into the areas surrounding the chapel. Our Columbarium was closed for two weeks in the summer to determine how much weight its structure, which sits underneath the organ loft, could support.

Abatement and cleaning

Asbestos is a concern in any structure built a hundred years ago. The renovation team has this problem well in hand. After extensive testing, experts have determined what material, from asbestos to adhesive and old caulking, needs to be removed. A licensed asbestos abatement
contractor will soon perform this critical work in strict compliance with all local codes and regulations. A third-party contractor will monitor the air quality in the chapel before, during, and after the abatement process.

Alongside the isolation and removal of old construction materials, the renovation team is testing various cleaning methods on the chapel’s stone surfaces and masonry. One of the renovation’s goals is to restore the stones of the chapel to their original appearance after a century of active use. The ideal cleaning solutions will both preserve the stones and remove one hundred years’ worth of darkening buildup.

“You will be amazed”

“I and the other members of the task force thank everyone for their support of this project and patience while it is underway,” Bob says. “We know that it has posed challenges and we are so grateful to the entire congregation for their understanding and commitment. When the renovation is complete and the chapel re-opens, you will be amazed at how this sacred space has been transformed and renewed for the next one hundred years.”