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Home > Building > Architecture
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Duke Chapel is an example of neo-Gothic architecture in the English
style. Gothic architecture is characterized by large stone piers,
pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and flying buttresses, which allow
the creation of vast open spaces, uninterrupted by columns for support.
Materials
In Duke Chapel, the Gothic tradition is updated by the use of
steel trusses, instead of wooden ones, to support the roof. In
addition to reducing fire hazards, the use of steel helps to reduce
the load on the Chapel’s walls, eliminating the need for
large flying buttresses.
The Chapel is constructed of a volcanic stone from a quarry in
Hillsborough, North Carolina, which was purchased by the University
for the construction of West Campus. Known as Hillsborough bluestone,
the beautiful and distinctive stone actually ranges in color through
17 shades, from rust orange to slate gray. The stones are of varying
sizes, all cut to the same proportions (twice as long as they
are high).
The pulpit, lectern, and other trimmings are made of Indiana
limestone. The vaults of the choir are made of stone, but the
walls and vaults of the nave and transepts are made of Guastavino
tile, a ceramic tile also used in such structures as New York’s
Grand Central Station, the Queensboro Bridge, and Grant’s
Tomb. Use of this tile instead of stone also helps reduce the
load on the walls. The structural tile is, in turn, covered with
Guastavino’s patented sound-absorbing Akoustalith tile.
Before the Flentrop organ was installed, in 1976, this tile was
coated with a sealant to increase the reverberation time, making
the Chapel more suited to the sounds of the organ.
Front view of the Chapel
Side view of the Chapel
Floor plan of the Chapel
Follow the links to explore these parts of the Chapel in more detail:
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