Rothko Chapel, a groundbreaking $42 million project in Houston, Texas, is set to enhance the area with new buildings, landscaping, and improved accessibility. Over the next two years, the site will witness the construction of an administration and archives building, a new program center, a guest bungalow for visiting speakers and fellows, and a plaza for events, along with a meditation garden named after Kathleen and Chuck Mullenweg. On-site work commenced on April 17.
These additions, slated for completion by 2026, build upon a previous $30 million renovation completed in 2021.
“The Chapel has always lacked the space necessary to fully realize our dual mission,” stated executive director David Leslie. “The Opening Spaces project aims not only to create areas that accommodate more visitors but also to foster deeper engagement with the art, contemplation, and community-focused social justice initiatives inherent in our founders’ vision. This endeavor brings individuals together in dialogue and reflection, transcending the boundaries that divide us.”
In 1964, collectors John and Dominique de Menil commissioned Abstract Expressionist Mark Rothko for the project. The original construction and the painstaking process of creating the 14 large murals spanned seven years, involving “a procession of architects” and a substantial crane to lower the monumental artworks into the building. Rothko tragically did not live to see his vision realized, passing away on February 25, 1970, just shy of one year before completion.
Over 50 years later, Rothko’s vision continues to captivate art enthusiasts, with the chapel’s website reporting over 100,000 annual visitors.
