| Center for Science and the Arts Construction Begins |
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The silt fences are up, the tree protection is complete, and the heavy construction equipment is beginning to move onto the site – the new Center for Science and the Arts is on the way! Site preparation to re-route water and waste water lines and bull dozing and excavation of the construction site will be the first steps, according to Marquita Moss, president. The architect for the building is Danze & Davis, the firm which designed the Christian Heritage High School Building, the upper elementary building, and the church sanctuary and lower elementary classroom building. The building contractor is Shad Zapalac of Zapalac/Reed, who also built the upper elementary building. Through May, $3,757,509 has been raised for the building, Mrs. Moss said. “Sacrificial giving on the part of many generous supporters – from smallest one-time donation to the largest seven figure commitment – has brought us to this point. We continue to see God’s strong hand in this project.” Excitement is building among faculty and students alike in anticipation of staging next year’s spring “Way Off Broadway” production in the Iva Lea Worley Barton Theater. Individual donors have contributed the bulk of the funds raised so far, supplemented by a $250,000 grant from the Harrington Foundation and just over $100,000 raised so far by the “Take a Seat” campaign. “We need to raise another $742,491 to reach our $4.5-million goal,” Mrs. Moss said. “Reaching that goal is extremely important for being able to complete the science labs and expand the school technology program, which are key ingredients in the new strategic plan initiatives,” she said. Meanwhile, school officials are negotiating the construction loan, the architect is completing last steps to procure the building permit, and the contractor is getting final bids for the building construction. “We have received approval from the Brentwood Oaks church elders to proceed with construction so we are moving forward,” Moss said. “The city permit for the site work was approved last fall, and the application for the building permit was submitted the first of May. Mrs. Moss said the Center for Science and the Arts will expand the science program to make room for more labs, solve conflicting rehearsal problems that clash with events in the Family Life Center, provide a performance-size theater with built-in stage lighting and excellent acoustics, include appropriately sized and equipped band and choir rooms, and free up existing classroom space for technology upgrades and art room expansion and renovation. “We will have more facilities that will enable us to even more effectively pursue the school’s mission, which includes helping students to identify their God-given talents for lives of Christian leadership and service,” Moss said. |
