St. Ignatius High School in Cleveland is asking the Cleveland Landmarks Commission to approve its plan to raze part of the campus and construct a 55,000-square-foot addition.
The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports that the $30 million expansion of the private boys high school would provide more classrooms and a new athletic center. To make room for the new facilities, the school wants to demolish its on-campus power plant and Carroll Gym
The Rev. Ray Guiao, president of the school, said the addition is not rooted in a need to “enlarge enrollment,” but a need to give more elbow room for its current and future students.
“Our enrollment right now is at about 1,400, and we’re finding that on our beautiful campus, our academic facilities are in need of renovation and we’re in need of expansion,” he said.
The addition would provide new classrooms for history, social studies, English and other liberal arts subjects. The third floor would be focused on art studies and would include a mezzanine loft space for advanced art students.
There would also be athletic suites, new varsity locker and training rooms, and a large café space.
St. Ignatius Principal Anthony Fior said that the new building would provide the school more flexibility in designing spaces for classroom instruction and wrap-around services such as counseling.
If all goes according to plan, school officials say they hope to start demolishing the power plant and old gym in early spring 2024. Construction would start around May 2024 and be completed by August 2025.
