The big bend in Atlanta's downtown connector is the "Grady Curve." There sits the massive blond brick "H" that is Henry W. Grady Memorial Hospital. "Grady" is the one of Atlanta's most familiar icons, seen on every trip to the airport. It's THE downtown landmark for our traffic reports. Like most Atlantans I'd never been there, until Wednesday.
In advance of the Shutze Awards on February 12, I trekked to Grady looking for the Goddard Chapel.
The Grady colossus overwhelmed me. This is the new, heavy deco portico; or is it a porte-cochere.
Remember, we're looking for this elaborate pulpit with tester.
Map Tip: South on Courtland, left on Gilmer, right on Jesse Hill. Park in the big deck with the McDonalds. Now that I know, it's easy to get there. Grady's main entrance is up a gentle ramp to the curved green main entrance.
We're looking for the red curtains on bricked up windows, the Ten Commandments in gold leaf.
I was on the ground floor. I was close, the chapel is on the 1st floor. I asked directions at the desk in the atrium.
"That way to the elevators then up the 1st floor." "That way" led to the main lobby elevators.
I rode up to the first and looked for the Narthex of the Goddard.
That chaplains' offices are next to the chapel. There are plenty of signs. It's down here.
The black and white marble floor gave it away.
The narthex has niches.
The many chandeliers and sconces cast many shadows.
It's there for anyone.
I didn't hear the tiny organ.
The box pews have kneelers.
Outside and inside this quiet haven Grady's humane business carries on.
The restoration of the chapel won a 2010 Shutze Award for Craftsmanship. Here is the citation by Calder Loth.
Goddard Memorial Chapel
Suzanne M Begin for
Henry W. Grady Health System Foundation
*Our next awards category is Craftsmanship. We cannot have lasting architecture without decent craftsmanship. And we cannot preserve our architectural monuments without skilled craftsmen involved with maintenance and restoration. This was vividly demonstrated in the restoration of Philip Shutze’s Goddard Chapel, located in the Grady Memorial Hospital here in Atlanta.
This jewel-like space had been subjected to well-meaning but misguided treatment over the years. The original hand-rubbed paint finishes had been whitewashed. The gold leaf details were spray-painted with cheap gold paint which blackened. The windows were blocked up, removing natural light. A crude HVAC system played havoc with the quiet ambiance. Its original crimson damask curtains disappeared.
*Through the sponsorship of the Henry W. Grady Health System Foundation, to whom this award is given, the chapel was meticulously and lovingly restored to its original character.
This included the *restoration of original finishes; replication of the damask curtains and new window blinds, *carefully reproducing the curtain tassels; *repair of damaged carvings; restoration of many of the fittings; and installation of a new lighting system with special lighting for the blocked windows.
*The award is accepted by Suzanne M. Begin, Executive Director of the foundation. Congratulations to you and your foundation for this work of love.