Inside the Cathedral: behind the $14M renovation project

WASHINGTON — Amid the lofty arches and sacred halls of Washington National Cathedral, an ambitious project is underway. 

Workers have begun removing pipes as part of a $14 million renovation project of its pipe organ, which has more than 10,000 pipes.

Crews gave us an inside look on Wednesday during a press conference where officials said, "creating an organ for a finished cathedral is the main takeaway."

The massive undertaking to renovate and restore the pipe organ is expected to take until 2028. 

Until then, a digital organ is temporary is operating in its place, which will be used for practice after the project is complete.

Connecticut-based Foley-Baker is leading the work, while being supervised by the Cathedral’s Department of Facilities & Preservation.

Originally installed in 1938, the organ was designed when the Cathedral was only one-third complete. Since then, it has undergone various expansions, patches, retrofits and rebuilds to facilitate its use across more than 30,000 Cathedral services. However, officials say after experiencing natural wear and tear over 85 years, at least a quarter of the organ is no longer working.

The renovation aims to renew the instrument's functionality after nearly a hundred years of service.

“This renovation is a transformative investment in our music program and is critical to preserving the Cathedral’s rich musical heritage,” said Thomas Sheehan, the Cathedral’s Organist and Associate Director of Music. “The organ is the musical backbone of national services, daily worship and imaginative concerts. We are thrilled that this grand instrument will be restored and expanded for its next century of service to God’s people.”

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