Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Press Release

CHARLOTTE, NC – December 4, 2017

PROVIDENCE DAY CELEBRATES THE COMPLETION OF TWO NEW BUILDINGS
Capital projects feature largest building on campus and new ‘front door’ to the school

The Providence Day School campus changed dramatically today.  The school celebrated the completion of a new Academic Center, adjoining DeMayo Gateway Center, and split-level parking deck with an official ribbon cutting ceremony attended by approximately 1,000 students, parents, alumni, faculty and staff.  These buildings increase the total campus square footage by a third, and mark the first major additions to the school in four years.

The Academic Center features 32 learning labs, 10 seminar rooms, a 150-seat lecture theater with retractable seating, a modular collaborative learning space, community lounges, global café, spirit store, and school archives display.  Middle and Upper School math and humanities classes will be taught in the building starting in early January.  At four stories and 80,000 square feet, the Academic Center is now the largest building on campus, surpassing the Mosack Athletic Center, a 50,000 square-foot building that features three full-sized basketball courts.

The DeMayo Gateway Center will be the new ‘front door’ of the school, and serve as the official visitor and guest reception area.  The building will house both the Admissions and College Guidance offices, creating the opportunity for students and families to begin and end their PDS journey in the same location. The two-story, 7,200 square foot building features outdoor terraces and balconies, and woodwork sourced from Oak trees that originally stood on the site.

Participating in the ribbon cutting were Dr. Glyn Cowlishaw, Head of School; Benjamin Robinson, Chair, Board of Trustees; Cathy Bessant, National Campaign Chair; Nancy Downing, Chair, Advancement Committee, Board of Trustees; Howard and Julie Levine and Michael DeMayo, lead philanthropists; and students Olivia Comer, a member of the Providence Day Class of 2018 and Quinn Taggert, Class of 2031.

PROVIDENCE DAY SCHOOL
NEW FACILITIES HIGHLIGHTS

Academic Center

• 4-story, 80,000 square feet
• Largest building on campus
• Designed with input from faculty and students to encourage an interactive, collaborative approach to learning, inspire innovative thinking, and significantly improve pace of life for students and teachers.
• Howard and Julie Levine have made a $2 million lead gift in support.
• Brian and Amy France have made a $1 million commitment in support.

First Floor

• Legacy Lobby – celebrating the school’s culture of philanthropy and honoring the school’s rich history and traditions
• Charger Archives – rotating display of Providence Day memorabilia; majority of woodwork is from harvested and repurposed Oak trees that originally stood on the site
• Global Cafe – open to the entire parent community, and seniors initially; offering specialty beverages and Grab & Go healthy food items; managed in partnership with school’s Director of Nutrition and Performance
• Spirit Store – larger and expanded inventory; customizable options
• The Stable (a lecture theater) – 134 retractable cushioned seats with backs and armrests with room to add 40 seats above and below; flexible multi-use space
• Corner and End Lounges – informal social gathering spaces; available to any community member
• Administrative Offices – Middle School Dean of Students, Upper School Dean of Students, Upper School Math faculty hub
• Seminar Rooms – smaller footprint rooms connected to larger learning labs, with glass walls separating; intended for small group/individual work or small meetings
• Classes – Upper School Math classes

Second Floor

• Middle School Commons – extra wide hallway with movable risers, can be used for informal social gathering space or a meeting
• Corner and End Lounges – informal social gathering spaces; available to any community member
• Administrative offices – Head of Middle School, Middle School English and History Department Chairs
• Seminar Rooms – smaller footprint rooms connected to larger learning labs, with glass walls separating; intended for small group or individual work
• Conference Room – bookable space by community
• Classes – Middle School English and History

 

Third Floor

• • Senior Lounge – dedicated space for Senior Class students
  • Corner and End Lounges – informal gathering spaces; available to any community member
  • Administrative offices – Upper School Assistant Head of School, Registrar, Upper School English and History Department Chairs, Upper School English and History Faculty hub

 

• Seminar Rooms – smaller footprint rooms connected to larger learning labs, with glass walls separating; intended for small group or individual work or small Advanced Placement classes

 

• Conference Room – bookable space by community
• Classes – Upper School English and History
  

Fourth Floor

• The Curve – one large space that can be divided into three separate spaces: The Presentation Zone, The Black Box Learning Lab, and The Project Studio; available for rent to outside groups.  There is also a small collaborative lounge.
• Administrative offices – The PEAK Center for Global Studies, World Language Department Chair, Middle and Upper School World Language Faculty hub
• Seminar Rooms – smaller footprint rooms connected to larger learning labs, with glass walls separating; intended for individual work or one-on-one faculty/student language assessment
• Classes – Middle School and Upper School World Languages

DeMayo Gateway Center

• Two-story, 7,200 square feet
• Visitor reception check-in
• First floor features Admissions Suite
• Second floor features College Guidance Suite
• Outdoor Alumni Legacy Terrace at ground level
• Front and back outdoor balconies on second floor
• Majority of woodwork in building made from harvested and repurposed Oak trees that originally stood on the site
• Named in recognition of the Michael A. DeMayo family’s $1 million commitment

Outdoor Courtyard

• The Arcade (covered walkway connecting DeMayo Gateway Center to Thompson-Jones Library and Academic Center) was based on student feedback
• Global Cafe Terrace with outdoor seating
• Three tranquil gardens with benches
• Senior Class ping-pong table
• “The Spiral Sphere” sculptural artwork is a Class of 2016 gift to the school

Parking Deck

• Split-level, 188 total spaces
• Upper deck reserved parking for College/University representatives and
  Admissions visitors
• Will increase student and pedestrian safety by reducing vehicular traffic through campus