Athletic/Fine Arts Center Groundbreaking, Thursday, May 19, 2005 (L-R): Flanked by SCPS students are Bill Daniel, SCPS Board of Trustees Chairman; Harold Deane Akins, SCPS Co-founder; Judy and Dick Eckburg, Donors; SCPS Headmaster Roger Yancey; Doyle Kelley, SCPS Upper School Principal; Walter Murphy, Rives F. Worrell Contractors; Sam McCachern, Thomas & Hutton Engineering and SCPS Construction Team Chairman; Raymond Padgett, Suntrust Bank; Don Cogdell, Cogdell & Mendrala Architects and George Woods, Project Manager, R.B. Baker Construction.

The groundbreaking of this cornerstone facility signifies the start of redevelopment of the 254-acre Chatham Parkway campus. The “One Campus Plan” includes consolidating all students and programs on the Chatham Parkway campus; growing the student population; strengthening the school’s academic, arts and athletic programs and eventually closing the 14-acre DeRenne Avenue campus that currently houses Middle School grades 6-8 and one class each of Lower School grades K-5.

Nearly $3,400,000 has been pledged by SCPS supporters so far through the “Generation to Generation” Capital Campaign to help fund this $8,000,000 facility. When completed, the complex will include a gymnasium, weight room, training room, hydrotherapy room, six athletic dressing rooms, concessions, bathrooms, athletic offices and storage, performing arts stage, two arts dressing dooms, prop room, band room, four music practice rooms, chorus room, three art studios, darkroom, fine arts offices and storage.

The projected $30,000,000 price tag for the entire campus redevelopment includes the new Athletic/Fine Arts complex, new Upper School facilities for 9th-12th graders, an additional Lower School wing and a new day care facility. We will also complete the campus perimeter road, expand the cafeteria, build new athletic fields and tennis courts for the Middle and Upper Schools and expand parking. Project funding will come from a combination of charitable gifts and borrowed funds.

Detailed renderings of the Athletic/Fine Arts complex and campus redevelopment plans can be seen at www.savcps.com under “Capital Campaign.”

(Left and Right photos) SCPS students and future beneficiaries of the Athletic/Fine Arts complex join in the Groundbreaking ceremony; (Center) Artist's renderings