We are excited to share a progress update on the construction projects happening all over campus. As a result of tremendous early support for Phase III of The Spark Campaign, this summer’s projects are focused on enhancing our spaces for music, academic support, technology, robotics, and athletics.
The energy and vision Park’s faculty bring to their work ensure that our programs continue to grow and expand, even when space limitations are a reality. Two programs have gained transformative momentum at Park in recent years: music ensembles and competitive robotics. These programs are thriving, despite having no dedicated space on campus to support them. That changes this fall!
Phase III will also bring Academic Support into the heart of Park’s academic spaces. On the third floor, adjacent to the library, this new home for Academic Support will foster stronger collaboration between students, teachers, and specialists, offering Tier 2 and Tier 3 support for students. This project shifts Academic Support from a stand-alone service on the outskirts of the building to an integral part of the core Park experience, ensuring that every learner is seen, supported, and challenged. With just four weeks until students and families return, here’s a look at what’s been happening:
SPARK Project Updates
- Music: The new music classroom for band and ukulele is progressing ahead of schedule! It feels bigger than anticipated and already has new carpet. In the former technology space, we’ve long called the Shire, and neighboring our other music classrooms, students will now have plenty of dedicated space to make music together.
- Academic Support Wing: On the Main Building’s third floor, the east wing is being transformed into an expanded academic support wing. This new space, adjacent to the library, will feature nine rooms for individual tutoring – and increase from our previous six – as well as spaces for small group instruction with our Lower Division math and literacy specialists. The walls are framed, new HVAC units are installed, and drywall is going up this week. We are confident these spaces will be ready for students on the first day of school.
- Technology: These new spaces on the fourth floor of the Main Building will provide a podcast recording room, a technology suite for student and employee support, and a much-needed conference room that will be used in myriad ways, including in support of the Upper Division advisory program. The walls are framed in this space and the construction team is working as quickly as possible to have this available for the community.
- West Building: The work to create a new robotics classroom, a new lobby, a Training Room where the Athletic Trainer will work with athletes, an office for the Athletics Director, and renovated bathrooms and changing spaces, is extensive. We are confident that the new lobby will be ready to welcome everyone on the first day of school, and the robotics classroom and athletic facilities will be available shortly after. Upper Division students will love the new storage for backpacks and athletic equipment, too!
Additional Campus Enhancements
All of this work is possible because of the generosity of Park families. Thanks to our dedicated facilities team and strategic budgeting for facilities needs, we’ve also been able to take on additional campus enhancements this summer. Our Upper Division students will enjoy freshly painted walls, new whiteboards, and an expanded Grade 7 Collaboration Space in the West Building. You’ll also notice a larger lobby space on the second floor, which will be a great spot for parents and visitors to connect. Finally, with new conference room facilities added to the Technology and Academic Support areas, we are able to convert an existing conference room in the Main Building to serve as a dedicated work room for faculty and staff, creating more opportunities for connection across disciplines and roles and strengthening bonds of community.
We are so excited for students to experience these new spaces and look forward to welcoming you all back to campus soon!