What are we doing?
We are moving forward with a New Construction/Renovation project at both campuses.
Why?
In 2006, we commissioned a Facility Master Plan and in 2007 we received the final results of the year-long study. The report identified some serious deficiencies at the West Campus, and many opportunities for growth at our Main Campus.
What are we building?
At the Main Campus we will build a new band/multi-purpose room, a new set room to provide space to build scenery for our many musical productions, add new chairs and flooring in the auditorium and create additional storage space so that band instruments and performance costumes can be safely secured.
The West Campus building will undergo major construction and renovation. We will add a new addition which will allow us to provide more indoor practice space, upgraded systems for new locker rooms, new offices for the coaching staff with updated weight and training rooms, and updated space for the Mostaciolli Dinner. Outside, we are adding a new multi-sport athletic complex with a competition football and soccer field as well as a competition baseball field. The running track will remain in its current location.
How much will it cost?
The package includes East Campus, West Campus and most of the outdoor complex which comes to $8,000,000. Since the baseball field has to be relocated to accommodate the new stadium, there will be additional costs involved beyond the $8,000,000 goal.
Given the downturn in the economy, is the timing right for a campaign?
The reality is that we can no longer band-aid the West Campus facility; and, after much thought and many discussions, we believe it is in our best interest to invest in our own facilities instead of investing in a facility for which we have no control over the scheduling of practices and games. A multi-sport field will allow us to schedule our own practices and games for football and soccer. The new area will also accommodate the softball and baseball teams when it is too wet to practice on their fields.
Our Fine Arts programming is excellent; however, we have significant overcrowding issues to deal with along with worn out chairs in the auditorium. We no longer have the luxury of waiting for the “right” time to launch a campaign.
How will we pay for this?
We are asking the entire SHG community to get involved. We are currently seeking funding from our alumni, current parents, future parents and friends. Unlike a public school or school district, we do not have the ability to levy taxes or seek a referendum from the voters.
Will tuition or fees be raised for this?
No. We are committed not to raise tuition or fees to pay for this project. Tuition is needed for the general operating costs of the school.
How did we decide to use Hanson Professional Services and not some other architect?
Our goal is to seek highly qualified firms with strong ties to SHG and our predecessor schools throughout the project. We developed a list of questions specific to their level of expertise and their ties with us and interviewed three local firms. It was the decision of the Building Committee that Hanson Professional Services would be the best fit because of their high level of expertise working with a combination of renovation and new construction along with their ties to the school.
You mentioned programming services. What does that mean?
There are four distinct services that architects use to get a project out for bid. With each of these services or phases there are many meetings with their clients (us) resulting in many revisions to get to where we can invite contractors to bid the project. All in all it takes about ten to eleven months to put together a project of this size:
- Programming: they will ask us questions about what we need, what we want, how big should it be, what should be next to it. This takes about a month and a half.
- Schematic Design: with the information from the Programming phase the architects begin designing the project, but only in broad strokes so that we can make adjustments easily. We begin to see how the new construction fits in with the renovations. This phase also takes about a month and a half.
- Design Development: now the project begins to emerge graphically. The sizes and shapes of the spaces, the exterior views and the interior colors and design are put on paper and the specifications (the instructions to the contractors) are put together. This takes a little longer, about two and a half months.
- Construction Documents: these are the final documents that are prepared for bidding. They are also known as the Bid Documents. It takes about another five months to develop these.
When will we be able to see what the new construction will look like?
Anyone can view the renderings on the GENERATIONS section of our Web site. Or, you can contact our office to arrange to come in to see them or we would be happy to send you a copy.
How will the contractor be chosen?
Just as we did with the architect, we will invite highly qualified, specific contractors to submit responses to the same types of questions we asked to determine their expertise and their ties to SHG and our predecessor schools. We will then solicit sealed bids from those contractors and subcontractors who have the experience of working with a combination of renovation and new construction as well as those who have close ties to the school. We will accept the lowest responsible bid and then enter into an agreement with that contractor.What is the time frame for our construction?
Typically, 60 - 70% or more of the money is raised in gifts and pledges before breaking ground occurs. We will share more details with you as our program develops.
How important is it that I get involved?
The involvement and active participation among our alumni, current parents, former parents, faculty, staff and friends will be the key to the successful outcome of this campaign.
The financial support is up to all of us. Although the Dominican Sisters have been very generous to provide support to Sacred Heart-Griffin in the past, they simply can no longer assume the financial responsibility of a project of this magnitude.
The success of this campaign is up to all of us!
We ask that you:
- Pray daily for the success of the campaign
- Volunteer to host an informational event or serve on a committee
- Provide names of others so that we can invite them to an informational session about the campaign
- Make a thoughtful and generous gift to the campaign
- Contact the Advancement Office at (217) 787-9732 to get involved
