What's Next?
As of Advent semester 2023 the renovation of Hamilton Hall is well underway—past the mid-way mark—scheduled to be completed as planned in the summer of 2024. We welcome your prayers and your gifts as we continue this landmark project.
For more than half a century, the School of Theology’s home in Hamilton Hall had remained relatively unchanged, despite major shifts in the needs of our community. We are now, in Advent semester 2023, more than half-way through on a comprehensive renovation project, which will enhance our ability to form students as future Church leaders.
Stepping Into Our Mission
Constructed in 1968, Hamilton Hall was first designed as a space for soldiers, not seminarians—it housed the Sewanee Military Academy for over a decade. With the completion of top-to-bottom renovations, our building will finally fully inhabit the role it took on more than thirty years ago: a hub for world-class theological instruction, Episcopal community-building, and spiritual growth.
With a solid architectural framework already in place, Sewanee’s Board of Regents elected in early 2020 to significantly upgrade our existing building, which also allows for continued worship in the Chapel of the Apostles; provides ample parking for employees, students, and visitors; is in close proximity to Sewanee Village; and affords easy access to central campus.
Renovations began at the beginning of Easter semester 2023. As with all transitions, the reshaping of Hamilton Hall will require patience and flexibility. Our administrators and faculty are committed to minimizing disruptions in our students’ daily routines and schedules. As we move toward our future, we will not sacrifice the quality of education we provide today.
Delivering the Sewanee Experience
It is the goal of our institution to form priests and scholars who are devout, learned, and useful. Every aspect of our renovation is designed to complement that aim.
A spacious reading room will greet students as they enter the foyer. It will provide permanent course reserves and a reference collection, so that students and faculty can easily consult these resources throughout the day. The reading room’s prominent location sends a message: academic excellence is prioritized here.
Formation at the School of Theology involves more than just the classroom. We are dedicated to nurturing a deep sense of community among our students, faculty, and staff, and to offering spaces for refreshment and renewal. Our renovated building will have ample common area, perfectly suited for conversation and reflection.
Effective preaching is a skill that demands ongoing practice. Our new Samuel T. Lloyd Forum (formerly Hargrove Auditorium) will be a fitting centerpiece for one of the finest preaching programs at any Episcopal seminary. From stadium seating to substantially improved acoustics and lighting, the space will facilitate strong connection between speaker and audience. Additionally, our renovated building will include state-of-the-art classrooms, a new oratory, and private study carrels. Structural components, such as plumbing and electricity, will also be fully upgraded, and every part of our new space will be fully ADA compliant.
