BEST BRICK AND STONE PROJECT

Best Brick & Stone Project
Hillsdale College Christ Chapel
Local 2 Michigan
Signatory Contractor: Weigand Construction Company, Inc.

Members of BAC Local 2 MI worked for over two years to build the stunning, 27,000 square foot, Christ Chapel at Hillsdale College, located in Hillsdale, MI. A $30,000,000 endeavor, it is the focus of a new quadrangle at the heart of the Hillsdale College campus.

The design of Christ Chapel is a striking blend of traditional craftsmanship and bold innovation. The chapel's exterior features a blend of bricks, chosen to harmonize with the existing campus materials. After careful testing in various lighting conditions, a custom variation of Arcadia Velour brick was selected, its golden hue complementing the other prominent material –limestone.

Built to last for centuries, Christ Chapel is constructed with a robust load-bearing masonry system. In select areas, the brick is installed in double, triple, and even quadruple wythes to ensure its strength. Custom-designed 5 5/8-inch deep bricks were used throughout the chapel, many of them pre-cut and shaped on-site, creating the precision needed for the chapel's intricate arches and concentric brick ribs.

Perhaps one of the most awe-inspiring features of Christ Chapel is its self-supporting masonry dome, which spans 32 feet in diameter. This dome, the largest of its kind built in the US in over 50 years, rests on a perimeter steel tension ring, supported by load bearing columns, each weighing12 tons. The brick ribs contain header bricks every three courses to tie the rib to the dome.

The chapel's lower-level features rusticated brick work, carefully articulated 
with recessed reveal bands that cast horizontal shadow lines, adding depth and texture to the structure. The rear elevation is adorned with three limestone panels, each crowned with intricately designed voussoir brick arches, an element so complex that dry-laid mock-ups were created to ensure flawless execution.

Two elegant brick arcades connect Christ Chapel to adjacent buildings, a nod to the future vision of the campus masterplan, which envisions covered arcades surrounding the quadrangle. These arcades, along with the chapel's resplendent exterior, set the tone for the grandeur of the interior.

Christ Chapel stands as a testament to exceptional craftsmanship and bold vision. Its combination of durable materials, intricate design, and timeless beauty raises the bar for future campus architecture, all thanks to the outstanding craftsmanship of the members of BAC Local 2 Michigan.