Columbia, SC (WLTX) -- Allen University is taking one of the oldest buildings on campus and restoring it to its former grandeur hoping to soon open it as a new venue for concerts, plays and talks and even new curriculum for students.
Allen Education Foundation member Sam McCuen says, "Its been an unusual building and we have the chance to save it, preserve it. There will never be anything like it."
McCuen said that Chapelle Hall is in the historic district on Allen University's campus. The building was designed by John Anderson Lankford. Project Manager, William Robinson explains, "He was one of the first licensed black architects in the United States."
Completed in 1925, Chapelle Hall was the largest gathering place for African Americans in the city of Columbia. Williams explains, "So they had one of the first meetings of freed blacks in the state, to plan life for African Americans was developed in that auditorium and then taken to the Statehouse."The building continued to play a significant role in African American life. In the 1960's it served as the gathering place to plan protests. McCuen was a reporter back then, covering Columbia's role in the Civil Rights Movement.
He says, "Allen University students would meet in Chapelle and then marched downtown Taylor Street to Main Street and occupy the lunch counters and that's what broke the back of the movement."Williams says, "That stage has been graced by Mary McLeod Bethune, Langston Hughes, Leotyne Price has sung there Muhammad Ali has been there, Martin Luther King, Jr. has spoken there. There is a myriad of folks who have been there."
The restoration is costing $2.9 million and has been paid for through grants and donations. The University still needs to raise close to $300,000 to put the finishing touches on. The historically significant building soon will once again play an important role in Allen University life. Robinson says, "To see this thing gutted, I know things that in the ceiling and the floor that people will never see. "The heating and cooling system, electric, sound and lighting systems will all be state of the art.
He says bringing the building into the 21st century is a balancing act of meeting the current building code requirements and infrastructure, while also ensuring the building is returned to its former glory by the standards of three historical society's since the building is on their registries. Robinson says, "It presents ,but it also gives you a clear roadmap of what you want to do."For instance they were able to save over half of the original metal ceiling tiles which were restored by hand.
Robinson says, "The wood in the building will be restored to its original look. It had been painted blue and then sometime in the 80's it was all painted white, but its being restored to its rich mahogany look."The chandelier has been restored and now has LED lights, instead of the old gas lighting.
In addition to bringing in revenue from concerts and other events held there, the goal is to create a new music curriculum that includes a degree in venue management.Robinson says, "Alumni are calling and they can't wait to sit in the same seat they sat in as students."
The university is currently fundraising for the remainder of the restoration budget providing naming opportunities to parts of the building to reach that goal. Those opportunities are listed below. To participate, just contact Allen University.
NAMING OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHAPPELLE HALL AUDITORIUMWINDOWS
AUDITORIUM SEATING
BABY GRAND PIANOS (2)
FLOORS SANDED AND POLISHED
WALL PLAQUE FOR DONORS
WOMEN'S POWDER ROOM PACKAGE
MEN’S BOUDOIR PACKAGE
DRAPES & RODS
ENERGY EFFICIENT BLIND
STAGE CURTAINS
MULTI MEDIA SYSTEM (2)
SURROUND SOUND SYSTEM (2)
AUDIO AND LIGHTING PACKAGE (2)
HIGH TOPS TABLES (24)
ROUND TABLES (24)
8 ft. LONG TABLES (24)
RECEPTION CHAIRS (200)
SECURITY SYSTEM
COAT RACKS (4)
MIRROR PACKAGE
HANDRAIL PACKAGE
UPGRADED LIGHT PACKAGE
APPLIANCE PACKAGE
ART WORK
FLOORING FOR THE BASEMENT
HIGH GRADE PODIUM (2)
TECHNOLOGY PACKAGE
HORTICULTURE PACKAGE
DOORS RUBBISHED