Rockefeller Memorial Chapel was part of John D. Rockefeller’s final gift to the University, and arguably his most impressive. Built without the use of structural steel, the chapel supports its 32,000 tons with 56 concrete piers that carry the foundations down to bedrock 80 feet below the floor. The building also features more than 100 stone sculptures and a 72-bell carillon, the second such largest instrument in the world. Today, Rockefeller Chapel is still hailed as one of the most impressive and beautiful ecclesiastical structures in the United States.
A Spiritual Hub
However, the chapel is more than just a pretty façade. With its Interreligious Center, it serves as the hub of spiritual life at the University of Chicago. Rockefeller Chapel offers interreligious programs emphasizing spiritual practice and community action, Sunday morning worship, dedicated prayer spaces for Hindu and Muslim students and community members, meditation spaces, restorative yoga and drumming circles, and shared meeting space for religious student organizations.