See the work
Renovation progress can be followed via a webcam at www.covenant.edu/carter.
A half century after moving its campus to the former Lookout Mountain Hotel, Covenant College has begun a $19.5 million renovation project to reclaim the historic structure.
Covenant is restoring its biggest and oldest building to its original stucco and wood exterior while upgrading the interior of the 129,000-square-foot flagship building on the mountaintop campus. The project, which will be done in four six-month stages, is the biggest single building project for the Presbyterian Church in America college.
It follows the completion three years ago of Covenant’s $53.4 million capital campaign that made both program and building improvements on the 400-acre campus in Lookout Mountain, Ga.
“This is a significant and important move for us because this building plays such a central role in our college,” Covenant College President Derek Halvorson said Tuesday. “It houses almost a third of our student body as a residence hall; it houses our dining hall, most of our administrative offices and our student services and bookstore; and it’s central to our history as a college and the history of the mountain.”
Built in 1928, the luxury hotel and resort was billed as the “Castle in the Clouds” until the Great Depression forced its closing. The hotel was later reopened and eventually was acquired by Covenant College in 1964 when the Presbyterian Church of America moved the college to the mountain from its previous home in St. Louis.
The two-year renovation of the former hotel, now known as Carter Hall, will be done in four semester-long phases to allow at least some of the college’s oldest and biggest building to remain in service while the restoration proceeds.
Staff Photo by Lesley Onstott
Covenant College in Lookout Mountain, Ga., on Tuesday.The building’s original stucco exterior will be uncovered, patched, and re-coated, and the stonework repaired. In addition to reclaiming the original design of the historic tower, a new roof will be installed, and all windows will be replaced with double windows, college spokeswoman Jen Allen said. The new design also will bring back the porches on the north and south ends of the building and installing a fire sprinkler system.
Planning is also underway for a separate project that will include a renovation of the dining hall during the summer of 2016.
David Northcutt, campus architect, said the start of construction culminates seven years of planning and fundraising.
“We want to invest in and care for Carter to ensure that future generations of Covenant students will be able to enjoy the building for generations to come,” he said in an announcement of the project Tuesday.
The renovation of Carter Hall won’t be complete until the summer of 2017. But during each of the four phases, most of the building will remain in service while students and staff are relocated to other housing and offices around campus.
To date, Covenant has collected $6.7 million designated for the renovation and an additional $4 million in pledges. Dr. Halvorson said the college will soon launch a public fundraising drive from alumni and the community to raise the remaining $8.7 million.
“I am delighted by the support we’ve already received for this project and pray that God would continue to guide us and to provide for this project as we seek to steward well a resource that has played-and continues to play-a central role in the life of the College and of each Covenant student.”
Contact Dave Flessner at dflessner@timesfreepress.com or at 757-6340.