Preserving an icon
King Chapel remains under repair following major damage from hurricane-force winds during a derecho on Aug. 10, the 2020. The college has enlisted regional, North American, and global firms to rebuild, including a forensic engineering firm, architects and masonry firms with expertise in historic restoration, and stained glass specialists.
Following months of investigation and stabilization, in May 2024 heavy equipment arrived on the Hilltop to start external repair work, and at the end of the month three survey towers were installed that use lasers to measure the positions of hundreds of small reflector targets on the exterior of the building. This system is allowing exterior work to start as it gives the construction crew real-time data on the stabilization of the building and will inform them if it’s moving in a way that would impact repairs or safety.
Updates will be shared here as the repair proceeds and we are able to estimate completion.
Restoration and repair timeline
Firms investigating the damage found that the 1882 National Register building was designed to flex under 100 mph winds for 30 seconds. The derecho blasted up to 140 mph for 45 minutes, fracturing the chapel’s four main roof trusses, which in turn caused residual damage throughout the building. In December 2021 workers began installing shoring to the interior and exterior of the building to keep it stabilized.
In July 2022 crews drilled 52-foot-deep moorings into the ground for three helical piers, a large flying-buttress looking structure on the southwest corner of the building, that reaches nearly to the roofline and stabilizes the west wall.
In November and December 2022 workers moved pews and cleared areas for a scaffolding support system that now reaches from the foundation to the roof. Workers drilled through floors and ceilings to create this scaffolding to provide stability and become a working platform to make repairs. Crews cut about 50 2-foot holes into the cathedral ceiling and the insulation above it was removed in order to confirm there are no other hidden damages. Forensic engineers inspected the work and drones were used to help complete a 3D imaging scan of the chapel (like an x-ray of the building from the inside out).
Media interested in updates on the repair progress may email kc_renovation@cornellcollege.edu
Music activities
In the past, King Chapel has been the hub of activity for the music department. Since the damage, all music ensembles are rehearsing elsewhere, including in Ringer Recital Hall, Kimmel Theatre, and the Kimmel lobby—located in Armstrong and Youngker halls. Some performances are taking place at venues in Mount Vernon. The Department of Theatre and Dance moved some of its operations to the Plumb-Fleming Black Box Theatre so that music has a temporary home.
A small number of music studio faculty who taught in the Chapel are now teaching in Armstrong Hall. The two music libraries are in temporary storage and all instruments stored in the Chapel are in Armstrong Hall or Youngker Hall, along with choral risers, choir attire, and music equipment.
