Viewpoint School celebrated the completion of three new facilities last week: the Dworkoski Family Hall, Paul Family Athletic Center and a seven-lane competition swimming pool are now open for students.
During the ribbon cutting ceremony school headmaster Robert J. Dworkoski commented that the final phase of construction “marks the beginning of a new and glorious chapter in our school’s history.”
The three facilities were a part of Viewpoint's master plan that began 11 years ago and cost around $57 million to complete, said Monica Case, the school's associate director of communication.
“All this construction has been done since we acquired the Meadow Oaks Property in 2000,” Case said. “There has been 133,000 square feet of new construction in that time.”
The new facilities include a 45,000-square-foot academic building named to honor Dworkoski's 25 years of leadership. The structure includes a dining facility for students. The new cafeteria will be run by Sage Dining Services and will emphasize organic foods from local sources, said Case.
“Last spring, 14 families got together and gave a gift of $3.5 million to dedicate this building in his name for his 25 years of service to the school,” Case said.
The completed 74,000-square-foot Upper School Complex is comprised of the Dworkoski Family Hall, science labs, ceramic and sculpture classrooms, and is part of 133,000 square feet of recent construction from 2006 which includes a state-of-the-art amphitheater and black box theatre.
“The idea was to build facilities to match the exceptional level of educators and students,” Case said. “We have an incredibly dedicated staff. … people that have been here a long time.”
The new athletic building can now host up to 900 spectators and is regulation height for indoor volleyball games. Equipped with a new pool, the school is considering future water sports teams, which may include water polo.
“We are very excited,” said Nikko Fournier, girls basketball coach. “For all the programs, it’s giving more space for the kids to be able to have a place to call their own. …The kids are very excited. Morale wise, the energy has picked up and hopefully that will translate into their performance.”
Fournier said that already the number of students interested in joining the athletics program has increased due to the excitement for the new gymnasium.
“It’s everything we have been hoping for, it’s a dream come true,” said Patrick Moyal, dean of co-curriculum and athletic director at Viewpoint. “We couldn’t ask for more. … It’s the size we want, the lights are great, lots of seating it’s beautiful. … We are very excited.”
