The 25,000-square-foot addition will feature a videography area, art room and seven classrooms, along with office space on the first floor.
Mark Bahr, Concordia Lutheran principal and chief operating officer, said the facility expansion is needed to accommodate population growth while providing modern educational facilities.
"We feel we're headed toward that direction with the enrollment growth," Bahr said. "We've [increased enrollment by about] 150 kids in the last four years or so, and we look to go up again next year."
Construction will include a 3,000-square-foot commons area to provide more space for students to congregate, and a covered patio will accommodate overflow from the cafeteria. The second floor of the new wing will have space for four new science labs and classrooms, while another element of the project involves relocating a baseball diamond to the south campus to provide an additional 80 spots of student parking.
"I think [Concordia Lutheran has] a good reputation, but this is just enhancing and pushing the envelope a bit more [at the school]." —Joel Bode, Concordia Lutheran Head of School and CEO
Bahr said the science labs are an area of emphasis for improvement because many students are interested in engineering, science and mathematics fields.
Concordia Lutheran Head of School and CEO Joel Bode said the construction project will span about 10 months and is anticipated for completion in December.
"I think [Concordia Lutheran has] a good reputation, but this is just enhancing and pushing the envelope a bit more [at the school]," Bode said.
The project has an estimated cost of $5.9 million, and another $2.5 million is needed for the parking lot and baseball diamond, Bode said. The completion date hinges on raising the necessary money through donations and fundraisers, a process that is already underway, Bode said.
The new wing will be added to the western side of the campus, matching the existing building's design and aesthetics, Bahr said. Though enrollment is at 525, the expansion is slated to increase capacity from 560 students to as many as 625 students upon completion.
Bode said much of the construction work will be completed this summer when classes are out of session. Phase 1 of construction will focus on the classrooms and common area, and the athletic facility relocation and Fine Arts Center will follow afterward. Timeframes are dependent on funding, he said.
The school is funded through private donations, and the expansion will not be paid for through bonds, taxes or public funds, Bahr said.
Bode said he plans to open the doors to the new wing by the second semester of the next school year in January.
