The chapel was reimagined into a 450-seat venue with soaring ceilings, reengineered wood trusses and refined acoustics. Features include suspended reflectors, sloped seating, a restored baroque Noack pipe organ and an extendable oak stage. Outside, more than 160 leaded-glass windows were disassembled, restored off site and reinstalled.

Photo by Chuck Choi, courtesy of Consigli Construction Co.

The chapel also received a new slate roof, copper gutters and full masonry restoration. A thermal vestibule was added by enclosing the east porch, increasing usable space without expanding the footprint. Approximately 80% of the original structure was retained, avoiding an estimated 6,000 metric tons of embodied carbon.

The new below-grade arts wing, tucked beneath a green roof, houses acoustically isolated studios, rehearsal rooms and a black box theater. Its design leverages soil thermal mass to stabilize interior temperatures and reduce operational energy use.

Oversized low-velocity ductwork, acoustic wall assemblies and adjustable curtains were used to tune each space. Wireless seismometers were installed during construction to detect vibrations that might threaten the chapel’s structural integrity.

Mechanical systems had to be routed across both old and new structures without compromising sound isolation.

Despite several unexpected scope increases, the $43.1-million project was delivered on time and within budget, creating a learning environment that continues the school’s 200-year tradition as a leader in girls’ education.