The Solution

The trustees of Lawrence Catholic Academy have developed a capital plan to comprehensively address the school’s facility needs. Importantly, LCA’s capital plan does not require the acquisition of any new property. A new school building will be constructed on land currently used as LCA’s parking lot/playground. After students move into the new school building, the old school buildings will be demolished. A new recreation center will then be constructed on the site of one of the current school buildings. The property where the other two current school buildings now stand will be converted into space for a new playground, parking, and a new road for drop-off and pick-up of students.

The two new buildings will be constructed in two phases. 

In the first phase, a new, three-story, 42,221 square foot school building will be built. The new school will feature two modern classrooms for each grade level from Kindergarten through Grade Eight. The space for LCA’s Early Childhood Education program will be expanded from the current four classrooms (74 seats) to seven classrooms (140 seats) . . . increasing the capacity of the entire new school building to 590 students, accommodating recent years’ rapid growth in enrollment at LCA. The new school building will have dedicated spaces for Art, Music, Social Skills, Health, and Title One classes. 

There will be dedicated science spaces and a STEM Makerspace to provide students hands-on, inquiry-based learning experiences. New HVAC, electrical, and plumbing systems will meet all codes and will provide maximum safety and efficiencies. The new school building will be constructed entirely above ground, permanently eliminating all possibilities of subterranean flooding. The new school building will be fully compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and thus will fully serve physically disabled students and adults.

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​In the second phase, the school’s current buildings will be demolished and, in their place, a new, 6,871 square foot recreation center, housing a full gymnasium/auditorium, will be constructed. As an athletic space, the recreation center will allow LCA to have daily gym classes indoors, introducing a comprehensive physical education program for all students. The space will host expanded LCA athletic teams (basketball, volleyball, floor hockey, and other . . . both intramural and in competitive leagues). As an auditorium space, the recreation center will provide for gatherings of the entire student body at the beginning of the school day; school-wide assemblies and events; flexible gatherings for various larger segments of the school population; and activities for parents and students. The recreation center will include a retractable stage, allowing for musical, theatrical, dance, and other artistic performances.