Lexington Presbyterian Church

On July 18, 2000, an accidentally fire devastated the historic Lexington Presbyterian Church in Lexington, VA. The church is famous for its design by Thomas U. Walter, architect of the US Capitol dome and the House and Senate wings. His gothic-inspired church had become a beloved icon in the small town and its loss was unimaginable.

Three months after the fire destroyed much of the original sanctuary, the congregation hired Train & Partners to spearhead a multi-million dollar restoration.

Train & Partners' design team - working in absence of any original drawings - researched the building's history, determined its original dimensions, and drew the documents necessary to rebuild it. Architects found clues of the original church within the wreckage, historical photos, and even a wedding video shot earlier in the summer. Recreating the roof, steeple, and ceiling became the greatest challenge of the project as all that remained of the steeple was the damaged copper finial, a trace of caulk and some paint.

In March 2002, local children given the day off from school cheered as a crew lifted the new steeple into place. The interior restoration continued through the summer and fall of 2002. By November, the project was complete and a celebration of the new sanctuary took place in January, 2003.