St. Andrew’s Episcopal School celebrated the groundbreaking and blessing of the foundation of its new Athletic Complex and Student Center on Aug. 30.

The ceremony took place at the St. Andrew’s Southwest Parkway campus, which is home to the school’s Upper School and the site of the new facilities. According to the school's fundraising website, the Athletic Complex and Student Center are being built in an existing parking lot.

The specifics

According to a news release, the new Athletic Complex and Student Center will feature:


  • A new 800-capacity gym equipped with an audio/visual system to host graduation and other school events


  • A 5,000-square-foot indoor/outdoor sports performance center


  • Capacity to host Austin Inter-Parochial League (AIPL) and Southwest Preparatory (SPC) tournaments for all Middle and Upper School court sports


  • New practice courts and a dance studio, which will double as a golf practice room with golf simulators


  • Home and visiting team locker rooms and a designated film room


  • Lobby and student commons areas in a spacious student union tailored for studying, hosting clubs and small group meetings


In a news release, St. Andrew’s Head of School Melissa Grubb called the groundbreaking and blessing of the new facility an “expression of gratitude.”

“Our Athletics Complex and Student Union is nothing short of magnificent,” Grubb said in the release. “We dreamed big here—not only to support our student-athletes and their hard work but to also build community, school spirit and pride at St. Andrew’s.”

The cost


St. Andrew’s is raising funds toward the $32 million goal through its ‘Raise the Roof’ Capital Campaign. The $18 million raised so far allowed the school to break ground on the project and use early funds to construct the exterior and mechanical infrastructure.

The campaign will continue in order to raise the remaining $14 million to complete the building interiors and finish-outs of the facility. Construction of the Athletic Complex and Student Center has already begun and is slated to conclude by fall 2025, according to the campaign website.

What’s next

When fundraising for the Athletics Complex and Student Center is complete, St. Andrew’s will begin fundraising to build a new STEM Center and move the Middle School, currently located at 1112 W. 31st Street, to the Southwest Parkway campus.