Chapelle Administration Building
United States historic place in Columbia, South Carolina. Built 1925 by John A. Lankford. Added to the National Register in 1976, and a National Historic Landmark.
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What it is
The Chappelle Administration Building, on the campus of Allen University in Columbia, South Carolina, was designed by John Anderson Lankford, known as the "dean of black architects." The building name has been spelled Chapelle Administration Building in Historic American Buildings Survey and National Park Service reports. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1976, cited as one Lankford's most important works.
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
The record
| Property type | Building |
| Address | 1530 Harden St., Columbia, SC |
| County | Richland County |
| Listed | Dec 8, 1976 |
| Listed for | Native American heritage, Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| Also known as | Chapelle Administration Building (J.A. Lankford) |
| Reference number | 76001710 |
| Built | 1925 · more from the 1920s |
| Architect | John A. Lankford |
| Type of place | university building |
| Style | Colonial Revival architecture |
| Designations | National Historic Landmark |
| Contributing resources | 1 building |
| Standing | Yes |
The nomination form, the document that argues why this place matters, is in the National Archives: Read the nomination ↗
Visiting
| Address | 1530 Harden St., Columbia, SC |
| Coordinates | 34.0110° N, 81.0208° W · Directions ↗ |
| Also in Columbia | 160 listed places in Columbia → · walking tours → |
| Nearest national park unit | Congaree National Park · 22 miles · on Park Atlas |
| Federal campgrounds nearby | Longleaf Campground 16 miles · Congaree Picnic Shelter 17 miles · Bluff Hike In Camping 17 miles |
Explore
Drawings & photographs
Measured drawings and photographs from the Library of Congress. Public domain. All 2 records ↗
Map
Nearby in Richland County
Local history books for Columbia
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Guidebooks to historic places in South Carolina
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
When was Chapelle Administration Building listed on the National Register?
Dec 8, 1976. It is also a National Historic Landmark, the higher of the two designations.
Source: National Park Service
When was Chapelle Administration Building built?
1925, designed by John A. Lankford, in the Colonial Revival architecture style.
Source: Wikidata
Can I visit Chapelle Administration Building?
Yes. Chapelle Administration Building is recorded as open to the public.
Source: Wikidata
Where is Chapelle Administration Building?
1530 Harden St., Columbia, Richland County, South Carolina. The nearest national park unit is Congaree National Park, 22 miles away.
Source: Congaree National Park
Are there historic photographs or drawings of Chapelle Administration Building?
Yes. The Historic American Buildings Survey at the Library of Congress has drawings or photographs of it.
Source: Library of Congress
Where is the nomination form for Chapelle Administration Building?
The National Archives holds the nomination form, the document that made the case for listing.
Source: National Archives
Are there campgrounds near Chapelle Administration Building?
Three federal campgrounds are within reach. The closest is Longleaf Campground, 16 miles away. Congaree Picnic Shelter is 17 miles away, and Bluff Hike In Camping is 17 miles away.
Source: Campsite Atlas
Is there cell service at Chapelle Administration Building?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 5G, AT&T 5G, and T-Mobile 5G at the listed point. Coverage indoors and behind old masonry is another matter.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
Is there a wildfire near Chapelle Administration Building right now?
2 active incidents within 50 miles as of 2026-10-17, nearest Harry Hampton East Csp Rx, 17 miles away.
Source: Map
Sources
Location, type and contributing counts come from the National Park Service's National Register spatial data. Listing dates come from the National Register office's spreadsheet where it carries the listing. Construction date, architect, style, photograph and encyclopedia link come from Wikidata and Wikimedia Commons, matched on reference number 76001710. Nothing here is transcribed by hand. The nomination form and photographs ↗ at NPGallery are the original nomination as filed with the National Park Service, and the form is often the best description of the place. The description under "What it is" is the opening of the Wikipedia article, CC BY-SA. Drawings and photographs are Historic American Buildings Survey records at the Library of Congress, public domain.