The Rev. Francis X. and Nonie Cheney Chapel was constructed in 1998. Part of the rear of Mt. Washington Hall, it is a 2,200 square foot chapel. It serves as a place for music instruction, housing the hand-made Sollenberger pipe organ and a Steinway piano. Music faculty offices are adjacent (Pierce Magazine, Vol. 16, No. 1). It also houses the college chapel.
A bond raised in 1998 allowed for the renovation of the Mt. Washington hall basement for the "clappel"--a combination classrooom and chapel (Pierce Arrow 03/03/1998). Opened in late fall, the chapel was designed to be acoustically sound. The building was dedicated to Francis and Nonnie Cheney, who donated funds for the project (Pierce Arrow 11/05/1998).
The FPU Music Department is located in the basement of Mt. Washington, adjacent to Cheney Hall. In 2004, an electronic studio was created to provide a location to record, edit, and produce sound and music via computer. It was originally created during the remodeling and creation of Cheney Hall, and was upgraded over the years to accommodate the growing demands of students and changing technology (Pierce Arrow 11/03/2004).
In early 2014, alum Jessica Schneider was commissioned to design a stained glass window for Cheney Hall, in memory of alum Denise Messier.
From the archives:
Campus Buildings Box CB11