|
| |||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Saint Louis Construction & Housing News Focusing on new construction & redevelopments within the Metropolitan Saint Louis Area  www.slfp.com St. Louis Front Page P. O. Box 1354 St. Louis, MO 63188 http://www.slfp.com Voice: 314-771-0200 Fax: 314-771-0300 To submit news, contact: editor@slfp.com |
 Brinkmann Constructors completed the $70 million Westminster Christian Academy in Town & Country, Mo. one year ahead of schedule. $70 Million Westminster Christian Academy Is a Showcase ST. LOUIS, MO, (SLFP.com), August 20, 2011 - The largest middle school and high school campus built in St. Louis in decades is set to debut this month, one year ahead of schedule. The $70 million Westminster Christian Academy is a showcase that combines optimal learning space infused with technology in a layout that fosters community. It includes facilities for an array of extracurricular programs, including fine arts and athletics. Built by St. Louis-based Brinkmann Constructors and designed by Zwick + Gandt Architecture, the new campus will open to more than 900 students Aug. 22, 2011. An open house is planned from 1 to 4 p.m. on Aug. 20, 2011. The new school can accommodate up to 1,200 students. "Because of the generous donations of our people, we were able to design a new campus from the ground up and take a most thoughtful approach to creatively engaging individual students while fostering a sense of community," said Zach Clark, director of advancement for Westminster. "The smart use of technology will greatly enhance education and unite students, faculty and staff." Since 2004, more than $45 million in donations and pledges were directed to the project. Previously located at 10900 Ladue Road in Creve Coeur, Mo., Westminster's new campus unfolds at 800 Maryville Centre Drive in Town & County, Mo. It hosts 325,000 finished square feet surrounded by green space and athletic fields, including a state-of-the-art artificial turf football field and track. It also has 12 tennis courts and fields for baseball, softball, soccer, lacrosse, field hockey and other sports. Eight years in the making, the new campus was delayed several times due to the economy. A donation of 30 acres advanced momentum. In December 2010, with the project six months into its construction, the school achieved its $20 million campaign goal. With the original timetable calling for completion in two years, Brinkmann worked with the school, designer Zwick and subcontractors to accelerate the schedule and complete the school in time for the 2011-2012 school year - saving up to $1.3 million in costs. "We were committed to advance the new campus through private donations and not through tuition," said Clark. "Through its creative approach, the Brinkmann team helped us maximize the value of every contribution from our generous donors." Critical to accelerating the schedule and trimming cost was a decision to re-use portions of an 80,000-square-foot building on the site that once housed West County Technical. The construction team seamlessly blended the building with new construction, re-using a kitchen and a gym. "It was a team effort," said Andy McDonnell, project director for Brinkmann. "Our subcontractors committed their most experienced people to the project, delivered thoughtful solutions and built with extraordinary proficiency." Clad in brick and cast stone, the school's faith-based mission is expressed by the iconic Celtic crosses on its façade. Entry through a colonnade leads to a large two-story commons with a reception area and space for school information and a trophy display. From the commons, the facility separates into wings for academics and athletics. A profusion of windows throughout the building allows students, faculty and administrators to connect visually with virtually every aspect of school life. The academic wing hosts middle and high school space on the first and second floors. Grades are divided into "neighborhoods," each with a dedicated commons area to unify middle school, freshman and sophomore, and junior and senior classes. State-of-the-art support space includes physics, biology and chemistry labs; a choir room with acoustic curtains; a band room with private practice rooms; and separate fine arts space for painting and sculpting. Fine arts learning is also served by a 600-seat performing arts theater and an intimate black box theater. The school has invested nearly $3 million in advanced technology to improve learning and connect all aspects of campus life. Up to 16 strategically placed 50-inch flat screen monitors post school announcements. Each classroom has its own IP address and overhead projector. Many classrooms are also equipped with smart boards. Teachers can remotely access countless instruction programs on the school's server. Teachers and administrators can also access building lights, heating and cooling systems and classroom projectors from smartphones and iPads. Highlighting the athletic wing is a dual court sports arena for basketball and volleyball with seating for 2,000; a gym with a mezzanine for wrestling team practice; a renovated gym; an eight-lane competition swimming pool; a weight room; and locker and shower space. Outside, a stadium plaza overlooks the football field and track with seating for 2,000 spectators. There is also a dedicated athletic building with lockers and game-planning space. Other amenities include a café with booth seating, served by a full service kitchen and a coffee bar. Joining Brinkmann and Zwick at Westminster were Briner Electric, Sachs Electric, AMX/Schoolview and Musak. Archived Pages: Park Royal Dedication to Honor Developers 80 Years Later $30 Million Redevelopment of Historic Cupples 9 Building in Downtown St. Louis Webster Groves High School Expands with New Addition 17-Story Centene Plaza Office Tower 96 Percent Leased Opera House Renamed Peabody Opera House Downtown St. Louis Projects Receive Major Economic Incentives for Redevelopment AFL-CIO to Bankroll Historic Laurel Redevelopment Construction Begins on Kirkwood Senior Living Facility St. Louis Cardinals Plan Softball Field on Site of Proposed Ballpark Village Ballpark Village On the Horizon for Downtown St. Louis Proposed Ballpark Village Development Could Transform St. Louis Downtown Into the Center of Universe Redevelopment of the Former 14th Street Pedestrian Mall Receives Critical Financing  
The St. Louis Front Page is owned and maintained by
the Moore Design Group for the sole purpose of disseminating news and information about the Metropolitan St. Louis area. Text or graphics may not be copied, rewritten or distributed in any manner whatsoever without written permission. For more information, contact editor@slfp.com
All rights reserved world wide
© 1996 - 2011 Moore Design Group. |
  STL Front Page  St. Louis Fine Restaurant Guide  Advertising Information |
