At the southwest corner of Eliot Hall, over the chapel and admission office entrance, is the Reed College seal. This seal is a composite of images, including the Richmond rose, which in this instance recognizes Reed's location in the city of roses, Portland. Fleurs-de-lis come from Thomas Lamb Eliot's alma mater, Washington University in Missouri. The 13 stars are taken from John Adams' family crest (Amanda Reed was related to the Adamses). Finally, the griffin, which came from Simeon Reed's family coat of arms, has emerged as Reed's unofficial mascot. With the head of an eagle and the body of a lion, the griffin has been regarded as a protector of "man and beasts" and as the enemy of ignorance.
The chapel architecture borrows details dating back to the 10th century. The stairway leading up the chapel (from the chapel and admission office entrance), is patterned after that used just before the Elizabethan era. Named the "Staircase of Emulation," the walls of oak paneling were originally intended as a space for hanging commemorative placques. Restoration work in the chapel has maintained the architect's original color choices for the stucco and fabrics, and for the finish on the wooden beams, carved chairs, and pulpit.