Early stages of construction have begun on renovations to St. Louis U. High’s chapel with the start of the new semester. When completed, the chapel will not only have received a visual upgrade, but also necessary structural and building code-related changes that will ensure the future well being of the Backer Memorial Campus.

Early stages of the renovation began earlier this month, as the large wooden steps leading to the altar were removed to make room for a new rounded stairwell. The next step to follow will be the removal of the carpet and further demolition.

“The altar used to be in a wooden platform that was dismantled,” said Director of Campus Ministry Matt Stewart, SJ. “There used to be a shelf built behind that that was covered in blue carpet. So that’s been removed now, the original stairs of the chapel. And so that’s the first thing because the architects have to draw all of that so they know how to build what’s new. … The first part of any project like this is demolition.”

As the Backer Memorial nears its second century of use, much is needed to keep the campus up to date and environmentally safe. A large aspect of this project was the protection of this building for years to come. For example, the existing floor underneath the carpet in the chapel is made of asbestos tile, a potential health hazard that will require professional removal before the bulk of construction can take place.

 “So, you know all of these pieces that we're doing around school are on one level, they're about renewing the building. They're also about making sure that we have a campus and another 100 years,” said President Alan Carruthers. “Building code and building products have also changed dramatically. So this is really about renewing the campus one step at a time.”

The goal of the chapel renovation project is to update and restore the heart of the campus. As students walk through the freshman and senior hallways, there is a solid wall between them and the chapel, creating a disconnect between student and sacrament.

When initially designed, the chapel was much more prominently featured in the school building; however, changes to fire codes and safety regulations since the last full renovation have forced the space to become closed off.

“I think a series of renovations largely because of fire code changes over the years have closed off the chapel and unless you know there’s a chapel there you don't know there’s a chapel there,” said Carruthers. 

“So one of the ideas and important things to us has been bringing the chapel space into the corridors,” said Stewart. “So that it's not just something you know about when you walk in.”

The need for a spiritual center of the school was a primary focus of this project, and through the opening of the space on the chapel’s north facing the hope is to achieve a connection between the everyday student life and the spiritual side of SLUH. 

“I'm excited about how it will change the feel of the entrance experience into the chapel but also just to reaffirm what we always have thought about the chapel, that this is the heart of the school,” said Carruthers. 

In the upcoming round of renovations, the chapel will take on a smaller footprint, as it lends part of its space to the future locations of the English, Math, and Social Studies department offices. While most of the space is receiving a full facelift, one feature of the chapel that will remain exactly the same is the main altar featuring marble statues of Mary, Jesus, and Joseph.

Currently, Campus Ministry estimates that renovation work will be fully underway by spring break, and is expected to continue through the spring of 2024.

Said Stewart, “Our hope is that the whole project will be finished by spring break of next year. There’s a chance that we’ll be earlier than that. But what I’m basically telling people is that the chapel will be closed as of spring break this year until spring break next year.”

With renovations expected to be finished by spring break of next year, there will be a large span of time in which the chapel will be unfit for daily Mass, prayer services, and class Masses. Several spaces are currently under consideration for these services, with smaller events such as daily Masses likely held in the North American Martyrs Chapel located in the second floor Ignatian Conference Room, and larger events, like class Masses and prayer services, possibly taking place in a temporary chapel in the theater loge.