Campus Center Project

Steel erected on first building.

Making progress every day. 

Groundbreaking Ceremony - October 23, 2021

Part of the foundation has been poured and the building shape is clearly defined.

The outline of the new Campus Center is starting to take shape.

The construction crew builds the pad for the new Campus Center. 

The demolition is complete.

We're making way for construction to begin on the new Campus Center.  The last science experiments were held in the Science Wing.  Next year during construction, our students will still have access to fully functional science labs in some of the classrooms located behind the Kay Awty Center and one of the modulars.

Four years in the planning, the new Campus Center will be in the very heart of the main campus, and will provide support for our three priorities: building community, advancing 21st century teaching and learning, and strengthening STEAM education. The project consists of two three-story buildings which will house Secondary classrooms, science labs, a state of the art makerspace and robotics lab, dining facilities for both Primary and Secondary students, an enlarged modern library, and a lecture hall. Due to thoughtful design, the configuration of the buildings will increase green space on campus.

As Awty's largest capital project to date, it is an incredibly exciting time for our students and their future. Not only will the Campus Center allow for an expansion in course offerings and new projects, but it will also provide opportunities to develop new ways of teaching and learning and enhance our ability to recruit and retain great educators.

As Awty began to look at future priorities, facilitating 21st century learning was top of mind. Based on the research of former Harvard professor and education researcher Tony Wagner, he identifies seven skills as essential for the 21st century. 

• Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
• Collaboration Across Networks and Leading by Influence
• Agility and Adaptability
• Initiative and Entrepreneurialism
• Effective Oral and Written Communication
• Accessing and Analyzing Information
• Curiosity and Imagination

In order to be successful in the 21st century and our evolving world, it is imperative that our children gain these critical skills now more than ever. The school has a history of innovation and excellence and seeks to prepare and graduate both college- and workforce-ready students. The Campus Center project will provide an environment to develop and foster these skills for our students. 

When we began planning for the Campus Center, we envisioned a future space that would best serve students and faculty. After a number of discussions with our community as well as the architects (Lake Flato), we arrived at an attractive facility that will serve Awty and its students for years to come by building community, advancing 21st century teaching and learning, and strengthening STEAM education. Additionally, after thoughtful design, the project will actually increase green space on campus. 

The features of the new facility will help our three priorities become a reality:

BUILDING COMMUNITY

• World-Class Student Center
• Dining for Entire Main Campus
• Modern Lecture Hall

21ST CENTURY TEACHING & LEARNING

• Future oriented Library
• Space for Innovation and Collaboration
• Flexible Spaces and Furniture
• Engaging Group Work Space
• Technologically-advanced Classrooms

STEAM

• Makerspace
• Cutting-edge Science and Technology Labs
• Cross-collaborative Space for STEAM education

The Campus Center will transform the heart of our main campus.  The new facilities will replace the two-story building, the science wing, the computer wing, the staff cafeteria, the cottage, the Sarofim Library, and the Fine Arts Recital Hall. 

Construction will occur in two phases.  In Phase I, which will begin in June 2021, we will replace the south (science) wing, north (computer) wing, and library in the quad.  In their place, a new three-story building will provide state-of-the-art learning facilities including a future-oriented library, science labs, and collaborative spaces, along with new dining halls and a lecture hall.  

During Phase II, to be built shortly thereafter, the two-story building, Fine Arts Recital Hall, staff cafeteria, and cottage will be replaced with a makerspace and tech classrooms, as well as additional classrooms and collaborative workspaces