CHICAGO (August 27, 2003)

More than a dozen schools in the Archdiocese of Chicago have completed expansion and renovations projects totaling more than $36 million. An additional 11 schools have projects underway totaling more than $50 million and six schools have projects in the planning process totaling more than $45 million. Here are several examples:

COMPLETED

Fenwick High School
505 Washington Blvd., Oak Park
Over the summer, the school converted two existing classrooms into multi-media rooms equipped with state-of-the-art technology such as DVD players, laser disks and projection screens. Plans include the addition of “smart boards” that allow projection of digitized information onto the board and then manipulation and revision of the information. The school also refurbished the gymnasium floor.

St. Gilbert School
231 E. Belvidere Rd, Grayslake
The school recently completed the expansion of its new learning center, which is composed of a computer laboratory and library for its students in kindergarten through sixth grade. The new lab is twice the size of its predecessor. In addition, the school added 15 new computers to the new learning center and 15 new computers to the junior high school computer lab, allowing the seventh and eighth graders to double their computer time. The Family School Association donated about $40,000 for the computers, networking and wiring for both projects.

Immaculate Conception School
1413 N. North Park Ave., Chicago
A new addition to the elementary school is completed at Immaculate Conception parish on the near north side. The existing building has been renovated and a new structure contains four early childhood education classrooms and a new main office. In addition, the old gymnasium was renovated and now serves as the school cafeteria and parish center. Renovations to existing classrooms are complete. The project cost $2.5 million.

Loyola Academy
1100 Laramie, Wilmette
Construction for the $20 million 60-acre West Athletic Campus was completed in early June 2003. The campus includes 10 state-of-the-art athletic fields for softball, baseball, soccer and lacrosse, night lighting, and an indoor facility with training rooms, meeting rooms and a concession stand.

Maria High School
6727 S. California Ave., Chicago
Bishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller will preside over a dedication liturgy of a renovated student auditorium on Sunday, September 3. In addition, a new student life center replaced the former cafeteria, offering students a more modern eating space and a lounge area. The project cost $600,000.

Nazareth Academy
1209 W. Ogden, LaGrange Park
The library was renovated to offer students a study/meeting room that runs on wireless technology and is equipped with 30 laptop computers. A large, new first-floor welcome center was named after recently retired 50-year teacher Sr. Ellen Springer, C.S.J., and a bridge connecting the east and west wings of the school will be ready for classes this fall. In addition, classrooms and bathroom facilities are being renovated. The total cost for the project is $2.6 million.

Our Lady of Loretto
9003 S. Kostner Ave., Hometown
The school renovated an existing classroom which will now serve as the science lab. It also upgraded its computer lab with new computers. Costs for the renovations and upgrades totaled $15,000.

St. Alphonsus Liguori School
411 N. Wheeling Rd., Prospect Heights
A new $3.5 million parish center, completed in June, includes a large gymnasium with locker rooms and shower facilities, a stage, full kitchen and cafeteria. It will be used for school and parish activities.

The school’s former gymnasium was remodeled in May and the new facility includes a large library, media center, science laboratory, art studio, conference room and religious education center. In addition, the former cafeteria was transformed into two first-grade classrooms and a large preschool classroom. These renovations totaled more than $1 million.

St. Alphonsus/St. Patrick School
20 W. 145 Davey Road, Lemont
St. Alphonsus/St. Patrick School moved to a new location, the former Bromberek Public School. The new campus has 17 classrooms, a technical center, a teacher’s break room, a library and cafeteria.

St. Christina School
3333 W. 110th St., Chicago
St. Christina School recently completed construction on a gymnasium, two new kindergarten classrooms, a library resource center, a computer laboratory, a science laboratory and a gathering center between the church and the new gymnasium. The project cost $3 million.

St. Clement School
2524 N. Orchard St., Chicago
Construction for a new school building began in June 2002 and will be ready for classes this fall. Grades 1-4 will be housed in new classrooms and new administrative offices were built. The new building has a rooftop playground, which is expected to be furnished with exercise equipment by Fall 2004. The expansion costs for the new building and playground are
$3.1 million.

St. Francis de Sales High School
10155 S. Ewing Ave., Chicago
The school recently completed a $175,000 project to demolish its former roller rink and replace it with a large multi-purpose convocation center that includes a weight and exercise room and a meeting space for students and alumni. A new telephone system was installed over the summer, as well as a new Web site and email system that will debut in the fall. In addition, the school will begin construction of a new computer lab in September that will include 15 new computers. The project will cost $12,500.

UNDERWAY

Ascension School
601 Van Burn St., Oak Park
In June 2003, Ascension School began renovating its ground level to make it more functional.
The school is adding a new music room, a handicap-accessible bathroom and is renovating its kitchen and stage. In addition, the school will install new floors, walls, lighting, plumbing and sidewalks. The $1.18 million project is expected to be complete by January 2004.

St. Alexander School
126th and 71st Ave., Palos Heights
St. Alexander recently broke ground on a new $2.9 million wing, Providence Hall, named in honor of the Sisters of Providence for their kindness to the students and staff over the school’s history. The new wing will contain two classrooms, a science laboratory, an applied technology laboratory and a faculty room. The additional space will allow the second- and third- grade students to leave their mobile classrooms and attend classes inside the building. Construction is expected to be complete by the spring of 2004.

Carmel High School
One Carmel Pkwy., Mundelein
The school broke ground in May on a 23,000-square-foot, $4.7 million science wing that will house 10 classrooms and laboratories will connect two sides of the existing building. Other renovations will cost an additional $1 million. The expansion is expected to be completed in April 2004.

St. Celestine School
3017 N. 77th Ave., Elmwood Park
Renovations and a technology update began during the last school year and are near completion. There is a new technology lab with computers, as well as new computers in every classroom. School renovations include: a new heating and air-conditioning system, windows, ceilings, and lighting. The entire school has been repainted. Renovations totaled $3.5 million.

Cristo Rey Jesuit High School
1852 W. 22nd Place, Chicago
Cristo Rey Jesuit High School is constructing a new $10.5 million building that will house a gymnasium, a cafeteria, a library, a media center and additional space to be used as needed. Construction is expected to be complete by mid-October 2003.

St. Emily School
1400 E. Central Road, Mount Prospect
A $3.6 million effort to upgrade St. Emily School and its parish is near completion. The construction project, which began in June 2002, includes enlarging the school’s computer lab and adding two new classrooms. The school is now completing landscaping around the school.

Francis Xavier Warde
700 W. Adams St., Chicago (Old St. Patrick’s Campus)
Construction is underway for a new school building to serve preschool through third-grade students. The new three-story, 60,000-square-foot school will include a gymnasium, multi-purpose cafeteria, library, art room, science lab and computer lab. The school project is estimated to cost $8 million and is part of a larger renovation and expansion project at Old St. Patrick’s Parish.

St. Ignatius College Prep.
1076 W. Roosevelt Rd., Chicago
St. Ignatius College Prep. is in the midst of installing $500,000 worth of equipment for its new chemistry laboratory and a $500,000 expansion of its locker rooms for the school’s new football team. The school is completing $1.5 million of construction on the second floor of its Chicago Center for a new fitness facility, health classrooms and a multi-purpose resting and activity area. In addition, the school recently installed $150,000 worth of mobile multi-media equipment for 10 classrooms.

Marist High School
4200 W. 115th St., Chicago
Marist High School recently completed a $250,000 expansion and upgrade project that began in late spring. The school constructed a state-of-the-art computer-aided drafting laboratory that includes 25 new computers with full Internet access and upgraded its entire technology network to connect all classrooms with fiber optics. The school remodeled the band’s practice room in the Shannon Music Center with new carpeting, paint and improved acoustics. The school installed a $35,000 computer-generated sound system in the main gymnasium and a debit card payment system in the cafeteria. In addition, the school is upgrading its lighting in the main gymnasium entrance hallways and in the Shannon Music Center with a $20,000 grant from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation. The lighting project should be complete by the end of the school year.

Trinity High School
7574 W. Division St., River Forest
Trinity High School’s new athletic facility is scheduled to open at the end of September. The new $3.5 million facility will house a gymnasium, weight room, seating for approximately 1,400 people and space for pep rallies, student gatherings and community events.

St. Viator High School
1213 E. Oakton, Arlington Heights
Four science labs have been renovated to include “state-of-the-art” equipment for chemistry, biology and physics courses. Each classroom contains 24 lab and lecture stations with Internet portals, a teacher’s demonstration table and stations for handicapped students.

Construction is underway for a new multipurpose athletic facility, The Boler Center. It will include a practice gymnasium, an indoor running track, a weight training room, a physical education classroom, four multipurpose rooms, locker rooms, administrative offices and athletic equipment storage space. Completion of construction is expected by fall/winter 2004. Both projects are part of the school’s $10 million “Heart of the Lion” capital campaign.

IN THE PLANNING PROCESS

Leo High School
7901 S. Sangamon St., Chicago
Leo High School will develop a multi-purpose, artificial surface recreation field on 79th Street immediately west of the school. The recreational field will be made available to the community through Leo programs and when its not in use by students. The project was initiated by Leo High School in cooperation with the city of Chicago. Construction is scheduled to begin in mid-October, early-November.

Mount Carmel High School
6410 S. Dante Ave., Chicago
A $25 million expansion will double the size of the high school by adding 80,000 square feet. The construction will include six new classrooms, a new field house with three basketball courts, four volleyball courts with a seating capacity of 1,200 and a new student center. The school will break ground for the new building during the 2003-04 academic year.

St. Patrick High School
5900 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago
Planning is underway for a new school cafeteria and a new band/orchestra room. The school also plans to expand and renovate its existing main office/reception area. There are plans to renovate the existing cafeteria into an athletic practice room and expand the current weight room into a state-of-the-art training facility and physical fitness center. Costs of the construction and renovations are estimated at $10 million.

Prince of Peace School
135 S. Milwaukee Ave., Lake Villa
A $3.4 million addition to Prince of Peace School will connect the school building to the church, providing both with five meeting rooms. The new wing will house the parish center, a preschool and a gathering space for religious education classes and administrators. In addition, a new sprinkler system will be installed along with new flooring throughout the school. Construction will begin in April 2004 and is expected to be complete by December 2004.

Queen of Peace High School
7659 S. Linder Ave., Burbank
The school is opening a state-of-the-art college center that will provide resources and technology to assist students in researching colleges and universities. It will be arranged in an “Internet Café” style and will be patterned after a student center on a college campus.

The school has installed in the chapel several new stained glass windows which will be dedicated at the October 5 alumni mass. Total cost for the college center, stained glass windows and landscaping is estimated at $100,000. In addition, plans are underway for a new performing arts center.

Sacred Heart School
1095 Gage Street, Winnetka
Groundbreaking for building expansion is set for Fall, 2003. The current one-story building is being expanded to three stories for a total of six additional classrooms. The rooms will be used for music, band, foreign language classes, a library and a faculty conference center. The $6.8 million budget includes expansion of the parish center.