National Cathedral Hires New Chief Architect

WASHINGTON – Washington National Cathedral has hired Michelle Kayon, RA, LEED AP as its new Director of Facilities and Preservation, effective January 2020. Kayon will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Cathedral facilities, as well as major architectural projects, maintenance and renovations at the Cathedral. She is the first woman in the 112-year history of the Cathedral to hold the position of chief architect.

“Michelle was the unanimous choice of the recruitment team, and we are anxious for her to join us in January,” said the Very. Rev Randolph Marshall Hollerith, Dean of Washington National Cathedral. “Michelle knows how to lead and manage complex projects and how to motivate a team to work alongside her. She has a heart for historic preservation and the importance of our public architecture, as well as a palpable enthusiasm for complex projects and delivering results on time and on budget.”

Kayon joins the Cathedral from her most recent position on Capitol Hill, where for the past 13 years she has held a number of key positions with the Architect of the Capitol, most recently as Acting Superintendent of House Office Buildings. She has been instrumental in the ongoing renovation to the Cannon House Office Building and the recent restoration of the Capitol Dome.

Prior to this, Kayon oversaw renovation projects at the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Zoo, Department of Justice and other sites across Washington. She has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Pennsylvania and a Master of Architecture from Columbia University.

As Kayon prepares to take over in her new role as Director of Facilities and Preservation, the Cathedral is undergoing several major architectural and construction projects, including a full renovation of the new Virginia Mae Center, formerly known as the College of Preachers, and $19 million in remaining repairs to the Cathedral stemming from the 2011 earthquake.

Washington National Cathedral is the world’s sixth-largest Gothic Cathedral and the second-largest in the United States. Construction began in 1907 and finished in 1990. Constructed of 150,000 tons of Indiana limestone, the Cathedral reaches a height of more than 300 feet, making it the tallest structure geographically in the Washington region. The Cathedral has hosted the state funerals for four U.S. presidents and is the final resting place of President Woodrow Wilson.

MEDIA CONTACT
Tony Franquiz, 202-374-5393, cathedral@westendstrategy.com

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About Washington National Cathedral

Grounded in the reconciling love of Jesus Christ, Washington National Cathedral is a house of prayer for all people, conceived by our founders to serve as a great church for national purposes.