Rothko Chapel to close down in March for renovations

By Rebecca Hazen, Staff writer Updated 2:49 pm CST, Tuesday, January 15, 2019

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The Rothko Chapel will close down for renovations starting March 4. The renovations will continue through the rest of the year. Photo: Allyn West

Photo: Allyn West Image 1 of 4

The Rothko Chapel will close down for renovations starting March 4. The renovations will continue through the rest of the year.

Rothko Chapel will temporarily close down on Monday, March 4, for renovations lasting through the rest of the year, with plans to reopen in mid-December 2019.

According to Executive Director David Leslie, renovations have been in discussions for the last 10 years, and are related to the visitor’s experience. Recommended Video

Visitors to the Rothko Chapel enter a quiet space that is filled with Mark Rothko’s murals.

“Part of the whole experience is engaging with the natural light. I think people felt that the current iteration of the light system just does not allow for that original purpose and intent,” Leslie said.

Another issue that will be addressed during renovation is space for engagements. Right now the chapel is the only available space for programming, and so it closes down and is not available for visitors seeking reflection time.

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“We are open every day of the year free of charge to let people be. At the same time we have concerts, lectures and conferences on key issues,” Leslie said.

Last year the chapel saw well over 100,000 counted visitors and another 7,500 to 10,000 program participants.

“It is really stressing the building and campus,” Leslie said.

The second phase of the renovations will include the building of a new visitor welcome house across the street from the chapel, on Sul Ross Street. Demolition on the existing bungalow in the space is currently underway. There will also be a program center to accommodate extra public programs and events.

“This is one way we are trying to proactively welcome guests and orient them to the chapel,” Leslie said.

Right now the entryway of the chapel has a space for the sale of books and postcards, and this will move into the new welcome building.

“This will create more sense of the sacred space,” Leslie said.

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The entire campus will shut down for the duration of the renovations, including the outdoor plaza area, because the work also includes landscaping and weather mitigation.

The Rothko Chapel will operate normally with scheduled programming up until the day before it closes, including a symposium on climate change at the end of February, and will still hold off-campus programming throughout the renovation process.

During the duration of the renovation, those interested can keep see the progress on the chapel’s website. Leslie noted that there will be written updates as well as photos and videos.

The Rothko Chapel is a unique addition to Houston’s art and culture, and Leslie noted that he hopes it will grow along with Houston’s continuing growth. The renovations will be completed in time for the chapel’s 50th anniversary in 2021.

“People from all around the world come to the Rothko chapel. The Rothko Chapel is about creating a safe and sacred engagement space where one can explore spirituality however defined,” Leslie said.