For the first time in more than nine months, Freed-Hardeman University students walked through the familiar auditorium doors into an awe-inspiring scene—featuring fresh carpet, comfortably padded seats, premium lighting and sound, and a stage that looked brand new again. After nearly a year away, daily chapel returned to the beautifully renovated space March 10, 2025, welcoming FHU into the era of Dryden Auditorium.

When Freed-Hardeman’s plans for a new spacious auditorium first began to take shape in the 1970s, the family of alumnus and former Board of Trustees member L.W. Loyd offered a $250,000 commitment to fund the new building project, matching the largest single gift donation at that point in the school’s history. In 1983, six years after the auditorium opened, it was formally named in honor of Loyd and his family, including his parents, the late Mr. and Mrs. J.R. Loyd Sr.

While the auditorium sufficiently met campus needs for many decades, campus improvement plans associated with the FHU NEXT campaign opened the door for modern practical and aesthetic upgrades. New generous alumni donors, including the Dryden family, stepped up to provide the funds that would allow the space to better serve thousands of students and visitors for many years to come. In honor of their patriarch David Thomas Dryden, known as “the original family entrepreneur,” the Dryden family chose to support the auditorium’s renovation, which now bears his name.

As one of the most frequently used spaces on campus, many scheduling adjustments had to be made during the months of renovation. In order to accommodate student chapel gatherings, daily devotionals temporarily took on the form of “split chapel,” giving students the opportunity to explore new topics while the auditorium was given a makeover.

During the Fall 2024 semester, students were given five different chapel options to choose from: devotionals led by students themselves; all-female devotionals, organized by the women’s Bible study group Zeteo; apologetics lessons led by Dr. Joe Deweese and Dr. Matthew Sokoloski; “deep dive” lessons led by FHU’s admissions team; and “Talks with T.J.,” where Vice President of Student Services T.J. Kirk and various professors answered previously submitted questions. Students attended the devotionals of their choice, in locations spread across campus, three days per week. On Mondays and Fridays, the full student body met together in Brewer Sports Center.

The change in routine allowed meeting spaces like Old Chapel Hall to spring to life once again. “This was an incredible experience getting to spend time in Old Chapel Hall singing and learning together. It is a historical place, and it made for a really amazing environment,” Deweese said.

When the doors officially opened on the newly renamed Dryden Auditorium, hundreds of students poured back into the space, eager to worship together as a full group once more.

“Walking into Dryden, I felt excited and moved by the amazing renovations!” said Landon Pierce, a senior biology major. “Being in the building that first day, I realized that a lot of great memories were going to be made here.”

Soon after its March opening, thousands of visitors were also able to experience the building’s improvements during large scale spring events like FHU Lectureship, Makin’ Music and spring graduation ceremonies. Attendees were grateful for the improved comfort, accessibility, technical production and—of course—shorter restroom lines.

“Dryden Auditorium is the center of activity at FHU and the community for events big and small including daily chapel,” said FHU Senior Vice President Dave Clouse. “We are so thankful to the Dryden family and to the many other donors through whose generosity it was made possible. The improvements including the new audio and visual capabilities have already proven to be a complete game-changer.”

While audiences enjoy the many current improvements, they can also look forward to a few remaining upgrades that will come in phase two of the project—including an elevator and a new entrance with a covered drive-through—which are slated for completion in the coming weeks, marking the final steps in this transformative renovation.