Company returns to church building roots as crews raise last beam of steel on Gothic-inspired tower
Hoar Construction and its development partner Christendom College announced today the topping out of construction at Christ the King Chapel, a new, on-campus chapel in Front Royal, Virginia, that will serve as a symbol of hope and inspiration for the college community and the entire Shenandoah Valley. On January 31, work crews laid the final beam of steel on the chapel’s 114-foot-tall main tower, which will be visible for several miles due to its location at the highest point of campus.
Hoar‘s Washington division was selected by Christendom College to serve as general contractor for the project this past August, with initial site work commencing in September. Construction teams have already finished laying underground utility piping and installing the concrete footings and slab, and will now focus on assembling the chapel’s remaining steel skeleton, which is scheduled for completion in February 2020. This phase of the Christ the King Chapel is tentatively slated to be completed in March 2021 with anticipated final completion December 2021.
“Christ the King Chapel is an outward manifestation of our commitment to Christ, and we are so grateful to Hoar Construction for their magnificent work,” said Dr. Timothy O’Donnell, president of Christendom College. “This momentous occasion brings us another step closer to the Chapel’s completion and we could not be more excited as a college and a community. I want to thank our generous benefactors for making this project possible, which will serve as an inspiration for students, faculty, staff, and visitors for years to come.”
The Gothic-inspired chapel will feature over 100 stained-glass windows and a seating capacity of more than 850, providing much needed space for Christendom College’s growing student body. The college raised approximately $45 million for its comprehensive capital-campaign titled “A Call to Greatness,” which ran for two years and was completed in time for the school’s 40thanniversary celebrations in 2018.
Hoar and its trade partners collaborated with the school throughout the pre-planning process to ensure the budget stayed within parameters while still holding true to the unique high-end design and finishes called for in the original scope of work. Hoar incorporated several value engineering measures to help the development team navigate rising costs for steel and other building materials, and was able to save the college money on its original budget while still securing all of the steel that was needed to complete the 20,000-square-foot frame. Project managers also utilized a new type of mechanical system known as a variable refrigerant flow, which better controls the environment and lasts longer compared to the more expensive blue duct many churches typically use to transfer air underground.
“Hoar Construction is pleased to return to our roots by partnering with Christendom College on a project that is truly one-of-a-kind in this region,” said Dwayne Fleger, Vice President at Hoar’s Washington office. “The chapel’s magnificent design and formidable structure tell a compelling story that will launch the college into the next phase of its development while also fulfilling its mission to equip the student body for their faith journey. We remain ahead of schedule and look forward to working with our trade partners on the next phase of construction.”
Christ the King Chapel will feature a new custom organ with 2,500 pipes built by Kegg Pipe Organ Builders, which will require several months of tuning before anyone can use the facility. In addition, the chapel will also have solid mahogany and red oak doors with leveled lead-pane glass and two 35-foot pre-manufactured bell towers. Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI blessed the cornerstone for the chapel in 2008 and after reviewing the college’s original blueprints declared the plans to be “beautiful.”
O’Brien & Keane is serving as lead architect for the project while Beyer Studio is overseeing design and production of the stained-glass windows. Other project partners include Meyer Consulting Engineers, Provectus Inc., and Pennoni.
For more information and photos on Christ the King Chapel clickhere. Photos and renderings of the project can be found at chapel.christendom.edu.
ABOUT HOAR CONSTRUCTION
Hoar Construction, established in 1940, has offices in Birmingham, Houston, Austin, Orlando, Nashville, Atlanta, and Washington, D.C. The firm provides professional services in general construction, construction management, design/build, serving clients in government, healthcare, retail, education, commercial, multifamily, hospitality, cultural/entertainment, and industrial markets. Hoar currently has projects inninestates. For more information about Hoar Construction, please visitwww.hoar.comor visit us onFacebook,Twitter,LinkedIn
ABOUT CHRISTENDOM COLLEGE
Christendom College is a Catholic liberal arts college in Front Royal, Virginia, offering a time-tested and rigorous education that develops the student’s intellect in such a powerful way that he graduates with the ability to master any subject—no matter how complex the vocational calling.Founded in 1977 in response to the devastating blow inflicted on Catholic higher education by the cultural revolution which swept across America in the 1960s, Christendom’s goal is to provide a truly Catholic education in fidelity to the Magisterium of the Catholic Church and thereby to prepare students for their role of restoring all things in Christ. For more information, please visit christendom.edu.
