Volume CXXXIII, Number 14 February 1, 2002 f

Experts review chapel restoration
NICOLE DURAND
STAFF WRITER

The facade of Bowdoin's chapel is hidden by scaffolding and scrim (plastic). (Colin LeCroy, Bowdoin Orient)

Students coming home from a semester abroad may find the Bowdoin campus to be in a refreshingly similar state to how they left it. However, one step onto the Quad may leave them wondering "Where has the chapel gone under all of that that scaffolding and plastic!?" (For the more technical we'll call that scaffolding and "scrim").

According to Bill Gardiner, Director of Facilities, weather and water damage have caused major structural damage and deterioration in both towers of the chapel. The process of restoration will be a long one, he says, and the completion date is yet unclear.

Gardiner says that the College is continuing to explore solutions with the same firm that they previously hired, but that in addition, they've engaged a group of peer reviewers who have expertise in restoration.

The team includes Arthur Femenella, a restoration expert from New Jersey, Dr. Kahlead Ibrahim, a consultant from Ottawa, Canada, and Macel Joanisse of the Heritage Masonry section of the public works in Canada, the same firm that worked on the Parliament buildings in Ottawa.

The team met Wednesday to evaluate various methods in correcting the structural problems with the chapel, which will involve taking each stone down from the top of each tower and re-erecting the stones in exactly the same place as they were originally placed.

Already, computerized scans have been taken of every stone that will be dislodged to ensure that it is replaced correctly. The reviewers are expected to report their conclusions some time next week.

Currently, the chapel can still be used, as the scrim that is wrapped around each tower is designed to prevent any loose debris from falling and creating a potentially hazardous situation to passersby. Beginning in March, however, when the work on disassembling the chapel will begin, the building will not be accessible for any activities until the project is complete.

Bowdoin's chapel may currently look like a bit of an eyesore amongst the brick and snow that blankets the rest of campus, but this much needed renovation will keep the chapel standing tall for many generations of Polar Bears to come.