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 byZwick + 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.
