Capital Initiatives
Loyola Academy’s mission as a Jesuit college preparatory school is to form women and men for others. The Latin terms “magis,” which translates as “striving to be your best” and “cura personalis,” or “care for the whole person” have been at the heart of Jesuit education for nearly 500 years.
In order for Loyola to be successful in educating the whole person, there need to be top-notch faculty, programs and facilities. Whether it be in a classroom setting or participating in a co-curricular activity, it is important to provide the best possible opportunities for our students to learn.
Loyola has a tremendous faculty and very competitive academic, athletic and co-curricular programs, however, some of our current facilities are outdated and in need of updating. In order to remain competitive and educate in the most learning conducive environment, it is important we upgrade these facilities.
Our current capital improvements include plans to:
Enriching Education Through the Arts
To complement our outstanding arts curriculum and co-curricular programming, we envision a comprehensive Performing and Fine Arts facility. This space will include a 650-seat performing arts center, with ample fly space, an orchestra pit, set design and construction space and dressing rooms and staging areas for performers. The facility will also include a "black box" theater for smaller performances, dance studios, separate art studios for each visual art discipline, exhibition space for student and alumni art work, sound proof music studios and rehearsal spaces with amble storage for musical instruments and updated technology including Macintosh computers and midi and CAD labs.
Supporting Loyola Aquatics
For 50 years, thousands of Ramblers have benefitted from the O'Shaughnessy Swimming Pool as athletes in Loyola's award-winning Swimming, Diving and Water Polo programs and as students in their Physical Education classes. Rigourous physical activity complements the outstanding education our students receive in the classroom and gives life to St. Ignatius' vision of educating the whole person. With your help, we will replace our 50-year-old pool with a state-of-the-art aquatic center that can be used for interscholastic competition and help keep our Ramblers physically fit.
Cultivating Excellence in Science Education
We have completed four of the 12 science labs. Eight more science labs are needed to complete our dedicated Science Wing. Each lab costs $325,000 to build. We are completely reliant on philanthropic support to complete this initiative.
Each lab will contain the tools and technologies used in universities and professional laboratories today, including water and gas sources, motion sensors and force plates, vent hoods, ground fault interrupters, safety eye washers and showers, emergency exhaust venting, high-quality cabinetry and benches, multimedia equipment, tablet PCs and, most importantly, the space for more students to engage in more scientific experiments. A combined classroom/laboratory layout will enable teachers to connect laboratory experiences with other types of learning activities such as lectures and discussions.
Completing Foley-O'Donnell Athletic Commons Training Facility
Our athletic trainers treat more than 1,400 athletes in a space that is 14'x16' and located in the school's basement, distant from Sachs Stadium and the athletic fields where many of our athletes practice and compete. This facility is no longer adequate for training and treatment.
Although a new training builiding has been completed, we need $250,000 to equip this facility with the necessary medical and training equipment.
To make a gift to or learn more about our capital initiatives, please contact Bob Miller, Vice President for Advancement, at 847-920-2428 or bmiller@loy.org.