John Vittiglio

Mike Byington, Lambda Chi Alpha Alumni Association president, jokes that the fraternity’s stately chapter house on Oak Street was built sturdy enough “to withstand a nuclear explosion.”

But it couldn’t overcome several years’ accumulation of water damage.

The Zeta Phi chapter of Lambda Chi Alpha at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is completing a $325,000 renovation of its 5,600-square-foot chapter house in Fort Wood.

Built in 1900, the three-story home is distinctive for its Ionic columns supporting a wide, wraparound front porch with honeycomb-tile floor and beveled-glass sidelights flanking a massive wooden front door.

“It’s a grand old house, one of the classics of the early 1900s,” said John Vittiglio, house corporation president for the fraternity.

The turn-of-the-century home has been the Lambda Chi chapter house since 1964. The last renovation of the house was when the Zeta Phi chapter moved in 44 years ago, according to alumni.

For $325,000, visitors might expect a decorator showhouse. While the chapter house has been redecorated — with attention given to authentic restoration of the elegant woodwork throughout the first floor, a new kitchen and improved living quarters — the majority of the funds have been sunk into structural necessities.

All improvements met with approval of city codes and guidelines of the Fort Wood Historic District, said house corporation officers.

“We tried not to change the flavor of the house. We did all our work in keeping with what was there, bringing the house back to its original grandeur,” said Mr. Vittiglio.

Water damage prompted the start of a roof and porch remodeling last summer, he said. Much like a domino effect, fixing the first problem uncovered bigger problems that ultimately led to the installation of a new heat and air system, electrical rewiring, overhaul of the chapter members’ accommodations on the second floor and installation of a new kitchen.

“The roof was in very bad disrepair,” said Mr. Vittiglio. “There were holes in the roof, water was coming into some of the upstairs bedrooms and into spaces between interior walls. Pigeons had gotten inside the soffits and were living there.”

Ray White, treasurer of the house corporation, said alumni took action when “boards in the porch ceiling began curling downward. We ripped them out to find water leaks had caused 350 square feet of damage in the ceiling.”

Mr. White said two old roofs had to be removed in order to install a new one over the house, the porch and its drive-through portico. Damaged soffits along with flashing around four fireplace chimneys were replaced.

The front-porch ceiling was demolished, and joists replaced before the new wooden ceiling was installed. New porch lighting for security was included.

The balustrade of the wraparound porch was replaced and raised 10 inches to meet city safety codes. In order to keep the home’s original look, all 115 balusters were custom-made to match the original railing, Mr. White said.

“The electrical wiring was from the original installation where the method at that time had exposed copper wire,” said Mr. Vittiglio. “We had city inspectors come, they said we had to get rid of that wiring, and we followed their advice.”

The house was rewired to update it from 200 to 400 amps, said Mr. White.

Steven Adair, a UTC junior who lives in the house, said his room is completely different since the update.

“There was writing all over the walls before. Now they’ve been painted, there is carpet on the floor and air-conditioning added. Before, my room was cooled by a personal fan,” he said.

“Our young men are leaders on campus, including the new student government president,” said Mr. White. “We wanted their house to reflect that status.”

Mr. Vittiglio said bank loans funded the renovation. However, the house corporation has hired a professional fundraiser to do a feasibility study of an alumni solicitation.

“We’ve been having alumni in to see the house in an informal way,” he said. “We’d love to get our alums together on a weekend night this summer for a buffet on the lawn and relive some good times from our years in the house.”

RENOVATION AT A GLANCE

Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity House Corp. officers John Vittiglio and Ray White gave this rundown of the chapter house’s renovations:

Two old roofs removed before new roof installed over house, porch and portico

Porch ceiling and balustrade replaced New heating/air-conditioning system

Exterior and interior painted

Plumbing repairs

New energy-efficient windows in all second-floor rooms

New prefinished oak flooring installed in 1,500 square feet of first floor

New foyer chandelier suspended from new ceiling medallion

Foyer’s grand stairway and smaller staircase in back hallway refinished; missing balusters replaced with custom-made ones; steps carpeted

New kitchen cabinet, counters and appliances installed; new floor to come

All eight, second-floor accommodations of chapter members updated with new ceilings, walls, wiring, windows, fixtures and carpeting Second-floor residents’ bath remodeled with new counter, cabinets, stalls, sinks and fixtures

Second-floor paneling covered with knockdown (faux stucco) finish and painted

New drop ceilings on basement and second floor to accommodate addition of air ducts

Built in a butler’s pantry and women’s rest room on first floor near kitchen

New wall installed to partition off a laundry room in basement; two new water heaters added