Helias planning for $4.5M expansion

Leaders of Helias Catholic High School are in the final stages of a planning process that could allow them to break ground on a $4.5 million building expansion this June.

The new wing includes six state-of-the-art science labs, a 250-seat chapel, new administrative offices with a secure entrance, a new choir classroom and practice space for the school's dance team.

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AP

The Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village apartments in Manhattan are seen in this 2006 photo. The two apartment complexes sold for $5.4 billion a few years ago.

The three-story building will be situated east of the school on land currently used as a baseball outfield. The new structure will feature a large central skylight and stairwell that will permit light to filter into the building's interior.

All three hallways from the existing structure will connect to the new wing.

Helias President Stephen Jones said a small, core group of local Catholic donors gave generous contributions to make the construction project possible. Fundraisers have collected $3.9 million to date, he said, and will continue to raise funds to finish the project.

Jones said the school also has benefited from good financial investments.

"We've had a good market, and they've grown," he said.

Situated on the uppermost floor, the chapel will be slightly cantilevered over the second story and will feature large windows facing south. The chapel space will be large enough to hold an entire grade level, Jones said.

Currently, when teachers need to meet with students in large groups, they do so in the school's gymnasium, but speakers' voices tend to echo and the space can be dim.

"We wanted to create a setting that is conducive to having the kids absorb what is going on," Jones noted.

Jones said school leaders are in the final phases of finishing their work with the architects and engineers, and hope to be reviewing bids by the end of May.

If all goes smoothly, Jones said, construction could commence in June, he said.

Jones said ideas for the expansion were first conceived years ago under Didier Aur's tenure as Helias president.

"It's the fruit of what's been floating around for seven years," Jones said.

Ed Twehous, a member of the strategic planning committee responsible for the capital campaign, said Aur had a vision for Helias that included a sports complex and improving the school's facilities. To make that dream a reality, the Catholic Diocese of Jefferson City has been purchasing nearby properties.

Twehous also said school supporters have been aware of the need for more laboratories to better prepare students for college.

"We have a great teachers who needs better facilities," Twehous added.

Once the new wing is constructed, Jones said the existing administrative offices will be repurposed. In February, Jones announced his plan to hire an "accommodations coordinator" to work with special-needs students. Jones noted the school is increasing its efforts to teach all students in the community, including ones who may need special education services or who struggle with academic success. The older offices will be repurposed for expanded counseling, he said.

Jones emphasized that the project, once completed, will be available for use by the entire diocese, not just Helias students. He noted the facility - such as the chapel - would be available for reservation by groups of all ages.

"We want to do this for the benefit of the whole Catholic community," Jones said.

Twehous said the addition of the chapel creates a space for younger students to be invited into the building.

"We want to make Helias a way of life for people," he said.

Jones said it was important to complete the science facilities first. Currently, Helias' science teachers share laboratories; the new rooms will provide every teacher his or her own class and lab space.

"Science is so important in this day and age," he said. "We wanted to do this first, because academics, and our Catholic faith, come first."

The lower floor will be devoted to the performing arts, which have been growing in popularity and success. Helias' dance team recently won state championships in two categories, and the choir is performing in New York this week.

"We'll be able to open the school up to the community a lot more. We want to provide the space and resources for it to continue to grow," Jones said.

By building this new facility, Jones said he is hopeful it will serve as a focal point for Catholic education and will emphasize the school's intention to provide "excellence for every student, every day."

This expansion is only the first phase of more construction to come, Jones said. The school is contemplating the future construction of a performing arts auditorium and new outdoor athletic facilities.

The diocese is working with the Steier Group, a national fundraising and development firm specializing in providing clients with customized campaign-planning strategies. To gauge the interest of the community, the Steier Group has conducted more than 100 personal interviews and sent out 7,000 surveys. Through those interviews and surveys, the group will assess respondents' willingness to contribute to capital fundraising campaigns.