College Invests $4.4M to Renovate Chapel as Faith Hub

While many universities are closing or repurposing their chapels, Augustana University in South Dakota just invested $4.4 million to make theirs even better.

The Chapel of Reconciliation reopened in September 2024 after a complete renovation and expansion, transforming what students call the "heart of campus" into a bright, welcoming space for worship and community. The chapel originally opened in 1981 and had remained largely unchanged for over 40 years.

"Not very many colleges and universities are renovating their chapels, and Augustana is," said Rev. Ann Elizabeth Rosendale, senior university pastor at Augustana. "The investment certainly is practical, but it is also very much symbolic."

The transformation included a dramatic wall of east-facing windows that floods the sanctuary with natural light, new flooring, upgraded lighting, and a state-of-the-art audiovisual system. But the renovation goes beyond aesthetics.

Dr. Joseph Fenstermacher, class of 1956, funded the new narthex in memory of his late wife Mary Ann. He chose to honor her maiden name, Bue, which means "beautiful" in Norwegian. "I would sit down next to my wife, and I would hold her hand," Fenstermacher recalled of their chapel services together before she passed from dementia in 2020.

The narthex now displays six pieces from a 14-piece art collection depicting the life of Christ. The paintings were created by Professor Emeritus Robert Aldern in 1961 and recently restored by his daughter, Noreen Aldern Groethe. "What a responsibility it is to be painting the face of Christ," Groethe said of the restoration work.

The Ripple Effect

The new Jerstad & Limburg Gathering Place honors two campus leaders whose friendship shaped generations of students. Campus Pastor Rev. Mark Jerstad and Professor Rev. Dr. James Limburg were close friends who constantly traded creative ideas for engaging students in faith and learning.

Their families partnered to create a 95-person gathering space with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the campus green. The room serves both religious and non-religious events, welcoming the entire campus community.

"He really felt that there should be a chapel at a Christian college and there should be a community space where people can get together in Christian love," said Sandy Jerstad, Mark's widow and a longtime softball coach at Augustana.

The renovation sends a powerful message about what Augustana values: faith, daily worship, and spiritual wellbeing remain central to student life, even as other schools move away from religious traditions.

In an era when many universities are distancing themselves from their religious roots, Augustana is doubling down on what makes it unique.