St. Joseph Cathedral School breaks ground on expansion project

Dignitaries from Jefferson City, the Catholic Diocese and St. Joseph Cathedral School were on hand Wednesday for the groundbreaking of the school's new gymnasium and performing arts center. Around $1.75 million was raised for the new facilities, and work is expected to be complete in mid-October.
Dignitaries from Jefferson City, the Catholic Diocese and St. Joseph Cathedral School were on hand Wednesday for the groundbreaking of the school's new gymnasium and performing arts center. Around $1.75 million was raised for the new facilities, and work is expected to be complete in mid-October.

The ground came to be broken Wednesday at St. Joseph Cathedral School. 

It's not just that the school, parish, Catholic Diocese of Jefferson City and city leaders celebrated a groundbreaking ceremony for a gym and fine arts expansion project, though - students brought the soil to the shovels, instead of the other way around.

A couple of students towed into St. Joseph Cathedral School's crowded gym a red riding wagon full of dirt to the waiting golden shovels of local dignitaries, including Principal Spencer Allen; parish pastor the Rev. Msgr. Robert Kurwicki; associate pastor the Rev. Josh Duncan; Sisters Elizabeth Youngs and Julie Brandt, superintendent and associate superintendent of Catholic Schools for the diocese; Bishop Shawn McKnight; Bishop Emeritus John Gaydos; Jefferson City Mayor Carrie Tergin; Jefferson City Public Schools Superintendent Larry Linthacum; and members of the parish council, advisory school board, The Architects Alliance, Sircal Contracting, Jefferson City Area Chamber of Commerce and JC Chamber Ambassadors.

"We're here to create a memory," Allen said to the gym full of St. Joseph Cathedral's students and staff.

He and other guests also turned some dirt outside with their shovels once students had been dismissed to get some cookies and refreshments provided by Hy-Vee and Jefferson City Coca-Cola Bottling Co.

An excavator was busy at work outside at the rear of the gym, next to a large pile of dirt already scooped.

The school announced its plans to expand its gym and fine arts facilities last fall and has raised about $1.75 million to do it - including contributions from an anonymous donor who matched all pledges made to the project's "Expanding Opportunities" fundraising campaign.

Sircal Project Manager Jeff Wilson - who has two sons in school at St. Joseph Cathedral - said a mid-October completion date is expected.

"It's another space for enrichment activities. I'm sure it will benefit all of us," Brandt said of what the project will mean for the whole diocese. She added the support for it is a sign of local commitment to Catholic schools.

"What we're celebrating today is the result of a lot of people coming together to work and make sacrifices for you," McKnight told students before he blessed the project, adding people gave of what's been given to them by God.

The Architects Alliance Project Manager Michelle Girard said the existing gym and stage area as it stands measures 7,000 square feet - 2,000 square feet of which is for the stage and support areas.

The current activities center was dedicated Oct. 30, 1977, and does not have air conditioning or enough space for large athletic tournaments for archery, volleyball and basketball.

Girard said 4,200 square feet will be added onto the renovated spaces, including 3,000 square feet for the enlarged stage and support areas. That will bring the total size of the gym and stage areas to 11,200 square feet.

In addition to air conditioning, she said, there will be another 3,000 square feet of new storage space beneath the gym and stage, with a garage door on the east side.

She and The Architects Alliance Principal Architect Cary Gampher planned the project. Sircal and The Architects Alliance were brought on board together as a team, she added.