CA M P US EX PA N S I O N
WHAT DO YOU SEE? Eight years ago at the end of my first day as the Headmaster of Presbyterian School, two members of our Board of Trustees walked with me to the lot across from Palm Court on the north side of the campus and asked me a very interesting question: “What do you see?” At the time, what I literally saw was a dilapidated grey apartment building surrounded by several old oak trees stretching their branches in all directions. What I saw in my mind’s eye, though, was something very different…something very exciting…something transformational. So, I answered, “I see a school.” What you will read about in the pages that follow is the exciting culmination of eight years of work and planning toward the realization of that vision now shared by countless people across all constituencies of our school. We have become convinced that we must design and build a school today that will meet the needs of the world tomorrow. Such a school will offer learning spaces that promote and cultivate these essential skills: • • • • •
Comfort with self-direction and initiative; Connectedness— experiences have value for ourselves and others; Understanding of the meaning and power of collaboration; Ability to navigate an abundance of information and intellectual resources; Discernment—the intelligent and intentional combination of analysis and synthesis.
Our vision incorporates these skills into spaces for new initiatives with local museums and universities; collaborative gallery spaces for student and community artists; outdoor learning and play spaces for young learners; and new design spaces to promote critical and creative thinking. At its very heart, Presbyterian School is a Christ-centered learning community focused on the mind, body, heart, and soul of each child. The vision in these pages allows us to build that school for the confident, critical, and creative thinkers who will serve, lead, and learn in Houston and beyond.
SEE WHAT MATTERS
What do we see? We see the future of our School…and we are eager for you to see it as well.
Henry David Thoreau shared, “It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.” We see the future of our School…and we are eager for you to see it as well.
Dr. Mark Carleton Headmaster
CAMPUS MASTER PLANNING Over three years ago, Presbyterian School’s Board of Trustees completed a comprehensive strategic plan that led to a detailed review of the School’s campus and facilities. As part of that review, we asked ourselves some hard questions about our physical space.
With these clear findings in mind, we embarked on a comprehensive space analysis, working closely with parents, staff, faculty, and members of the Board of Trustees to fully understand Presbyterian School’s needs – and to document its needs going forward.
• • • •
The space analysis led us to retain the noted architectural firm Gensler to develop a master plan that would allow us to fulfill our strategic goals. The result: a new 46,000 square foot Early Childhood and Lower School building, along with a renovated Middle School campus, designed to address Presbyterian School’s longterm facility needs.
• • •
What space do we have available for our students and faculty? Do our current spaces respond fully to student activities and interests? Do they allow our faculty to teach creatively? Do they support all that we know about the way that children and adolescents learn today? Are they designed and equipped to advance the way our children will learn in the future? Do they engage the soul as well as the mind and the body? Will we be able to grow in our current space?
After researching and documenting our answers, two key realities emerged: 1. We cannot fulfill our growth plans within our current facilities; and 2. The facilities cannot fully accommodate the School’s innovative teaching methods or advance our aspirations for the future.
THE THIRD TEACHER We believe that the environment in which our children learn is their “third teacher.” The opportunity in front of us is critical: we must design and build a school today that will meet the needs of the world tomorrow.
TAKING THE INITIATIVE Emerging research on brain development combined with ongoing innovations in technology have created an intersection of great challenge and unlimited opportunity for today’s teachers and learners and for tomorrow’s classrooms. With fingertip access to resources that were unimaginable even a decade ago, we are at the dawn of a new age of learning. If we can create learning spaces that promote and cultivate collaboration, our school will continue to lead in that age.
FACILITIES DESIGNED AND EQUIPPED FOR OUR STUDENTS Presbyterian School is excited to announce that we are expanding our footprint on the campus of First Presbyterian Church with a new 46,000 square foot Early Childhood and Lower School building along with other new learning spaces. A New Center for Early Learning will be customized to meet the developmental needs of three to seven-year-olds. With spacious indoor learning areas opening to outdoor play and classroom spaces, the Center for Early Learning will provide more stimulating areas in which to house the innovative programs we provide our youngest children during the years that are among the most fertile and critical for brain development.
Open Collaborative Spaces for Upper Elementary will support object-based learning and project-based assessment. Open-spaced classes in a new building will encourage students in Grades 1 to 5 to think creatively and to work collaboratively. Spaces for integrated learning will allow learners to use all their senses as they seek to draw conclusions based on careful examination of real evidence as well as their own and others’ ideas.
New Arts Spaces will offer many more opportunities for students to express their creativity. The addition of new/expanded learning, gallery, and performance spaces to support the School's fine arts programs will benefit both students and faculty. We will create space to engage professionals in the art community, as well as working artists, who will offer our students hands-on instruction in a variety of creative disciplines.
Expanded Outdoor Play Areas will give our youngest students more opportunities for movement, activity, and unstructured play . . . enhancing learning opportunities that are crucial to a child's early social, emotional, and physical development. Our new building will provide over 2,000 square feet of outdoor space and play area. Areas for After School Programs will support personalized learning through customized experiences for each student. The number of families choosing this program has grown exponentially since 2010, yet there has been no dedicated space for this vital program. The new building will better accommodate the growing number of families choosing our after school programs. A Newly Renovated Middle School will be enlarged to allow students in Grades 6 to 8 to fully engage in collaborative and integrated learning. STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) initiatives will be expanded to promote critical and creative thinking. New and expanded gallery and performance spaces will be designed for students and for instructive collaboration with community artists.
A CLEAR SENSE OF PLACE Great independent schools have a clear sense of mission and a clear sense of place. Our goal to shape Houston’s future through relevant and personalized learning hinges on our ability to expand and renovate our facilities—to assert and solidify our sense of place. Expanded facilities will allow us to reach more students with enhanced opportunities in literacy, math, outdoor learning, science, music, art, and lifetime fitness.
A NEW SITE FOR A NEW BUILDING
PARTNERS IN CONSTRUCTION
Presbyterian School’s new building will be constructed on a 30,470 square feet site located across from Palm Court in between Oakdale and Pinedale Streets (as noted in bright blue on the map below). The land is currently owned by First Presbyterian Church. The School has a 95-year lease with the Church with favorable terms and conditions: $1 per year.
Our partners in this project are Gensler, W.S. Bellows Construction, and Venturi Outcomes. Gensler is widely recognized as the world's leading collaborative design firm, not just the largest. They have most recently led design projects for ExxonMobil, Annunciation Orthodox School and the Post Oak School. Their work and collaboration with schools is important as across education, there is a push to speed up learning and spark creativity and design is crucial to making it happen. W.S. Bellows Construction Corporation has been family-owned and led since its founding in 1914. Bellows Construction has helped shape the heart of Houston's skyline and has built other notable structures across Texas and the Southwest. Not only has Bellows worked with construction at Rice University, St. John's School, The Kinkaid School and River Oaks Baptist, just to name a few, but they are also very familiar with our campus having built the Lancaster Center that houses our Middle School and the Outdoor Education Campus.
CONSTRUCTION TIMELINE The following is a tentative proposal for beginning and completion of construction and renovations. This timeline is subject to change according to construction conditions. • • • • •
Ceremonial groundbreaking at the Back-to-School Social (August 27, 2017) Preliminary construction site work (Fall 2017) Construction begins (Late 2017/Early 2018) New building complete (15-18 months after construction starts) Middle School renovations begin immediately following completion of new building.
Venturi Outcomes, under the leadership of Lorrie Foreman, has helped numerous non-profit organizations achieve success with unique, one-of-akind projects. Venturi Outcomes has a long history of managing large building programs, with a track record of $2+ billion in construction projects with zero litigation. They are adept at resolving issues and executing a strategy to speed project completion. Their portfolio includes work with Houston Ballet, Lakewood Church, The Houston Zoo, and George R. Brown Convention Center.
ROOM FOR THE FUTURE To forge an extraordinary experience for our children and faculty, we must create learning spaces for every child . . . every day. We seek to create, renovate, and endow spaces that will impact every child in our school every day they are with us.
MAKE ROOM FOR THE FUTURE Since its founding, Presbyterian School has grown steadily over the years in response to rising demand for its outstanding educational programs. Although this growth and success are cause for pride, they have also created a variety of facilities challenges for the School. Based on a comprehensive needs assessment by noted architectural firm Gensler, a new $25 million Campus Master Plan has been developed to address these needs. And in 2015, the Board of Trustees approved a capital campaign, Make Room for the Future, to fund this significant plan. As parents and co-chairs of the Make Room for the Future campaign, we feel compelled to support Presbyterian School in a significant way. The Make Room for the Future campaign will create, renovate, and endow spaces that will impact every child in our school every day they are with us. With the Campus Master Plan as our roadmap, Presbyterian School has identified creative solutions to their ongoing needs. The Make Room for the Future campaign is a giant step forward for the School. We are excited and stand ready to write the next historic chapter in the life of Presbyterian School.
Presbyterian School has impacted each member of our families in a multitude of ways. Between the two families, our six children have grown in the supportive and challenging learning environment that the School provides. Even for our children who have graduated and moved on to high school, the core beliefs and values that were instilled at Presbyterian School continue to influence them today. We feel strongly that the new and updated facilities are critical to the future of the School. At this time, we are happy to share that early fundraising efforts from the Board of Trustees, campaign leadership, parents, and foundations now total $12.3 million. And on behalf of our dedicated current parent campaign committee, we all look forward to sharing more exciting details with you as we break ground on the new building. Andi & Jonas Georgsson Capital Campaign Co-Chair
Cathy & Patrick Trask Capital Campaign Co-Chair
A RESOURCEFUL PLAN TO PAY FOR OUR CAMPUS EXPANSION It will cost an estimated $25 million to fund the construction of Presbyterian School’s new Early Childhood and Lower School building and the renovation of the Middle School, as well as to endow the facilities that will impact every child in our school every day. The School’s leadership has developed a conservative, detailed financial plan demonstrating the capacity to raise a minimum of $18 million through philanthropy and the ability to borrow $7 million in low-interest, longterm financing that can be repaid over time with a minimal impact on the operating budget. If we surpass the $18 million fundraising mark, we will borrow less. With this analysis in hand, in 2015 Presbyterian School’s Board of Trustees approved a capital campaign, Make Room for the Future, to move the plan forward. As of August 1, 2017, we are happy to share that early fundraising efforts from the Board of Trustees, campaign leadership, parents, and philanthropic foundations total $12.3 million. We look forward to inviting the support of every Presbyterian School family as we move ahead. Below are some of the most commonly asked questions about the capital campaign. How will the Capital Campaign be structured? The campaign will be conducted in two phases over several years. The first phase will be the construction of the new Early Childhood and Lower School building. In the second phase, the Middle School will be renovated and enlarged. Who is leading the Capital Campaign? The Make Room for the Future campaign co-chairs are Andi and Jonas Georgsson and Cathleen and Patrick Trask. They are supported by Headmaster, Dr. Mark Carleton, and the Office of Institutional Philanthropy led by Ashlea Taylor, in addition to an outstanding campaign committee of the following current Presbyterian School parents: Iris and Nathan Allen Amber Alonso and Tracie Renfroe Allison and Michael Casey Liz and Clint Freeland Don Langston and Hector Buitrago
James Maloney Elise Shatto Dolores Cavatore and John Tobola Sarah and Duncan Underwood Jill and Jeff Young
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Why are we building a new building? Who was involved in long range planning? Over the past three years, the Board of Trustees completed a comprehensive strategic plan which included the development of a new Campus Master Plan. This planning process developed a roadmap for the future as two realities emerged: • The strategic growth plans are not feasible within the current facilities footprint shared with First Presbyterian Church. • These same facilities cannot accommodate the innovative teaching methods of the School. Noted architectural firm, Gensler, was engaged to conduct a comprehensive analysis of current and future space needs for the School. Parents, faculty and staff provided significant input. A new Campus Master Plan was developed to address the critical needs and facilities issues. What elements are in the Campus Master Plan? At an estimated cost of $25 million, the Campus Master Plan will: • Design and build a 46,000 square foot building on Oakdale to house an Early Childhood and Lower School building for students (Beta through Grade 5) • Fully renovate the Middle School (Grade 6 to 8) • Add new learning, gallery, and performance spaces to support the Fine Arts programs • Expand and develop outdoor play areas • Develop space for after school programs • Increase the School’s reserve funds to ensure the new building will be maintained properly over time Do we own the land for our new building? The land is currently owned by First Presbyterian Church. The School has a 95-year lease with the Church with favorable terms and conditions: $1 per year. How will we pay for the new building and Middle School improvements? The Make Room for the Future campaign has been launched to fund the implementation of the Campus Master Plan. The School’s leadership has developed a conservative, detailed financial plan demonstrating the capacity to raise a minimum of $18 million through philanthropy and the ability to borrow $7 million in low-interest, long-term financing that can be repaid over time with a minimal impact on the operating budget. If we surpass the $18 million fundraising mark, we will borrow less. When was the School’s last capital campaign? Since the School’s founding, there have been two highly successful capital
campaigns. The first campaign, A Time to Grow, was to build the Middle School in Lancaster Center. The most recent campaign, The Great Outdoors, raised $6.5 million and was completed in 2008 to build the Outdoor Education Campus. Presbyterian School is truly in a position of institutional strength because of these previous campaigns and the community’s strong endorsement of the mission and vision of the School. Will there be other fundraising in addition to the Capital Campaign and the Annual Fund? As with most private schools, we only develop campaigns when there is a unique opportunity or vital need. We remain committed to keeping our tuition and fees in balance with the competitive private school landscape. By managing our investment and endowed funds, the School is able to build reserves over time for small-scale campus improvements. We rely on our Annual Fund each year to provide additional opportunities for our students as well as critical resources that are not covered by tuition. A capital campaign is truly a rare moment and only happens when we have a serious facility need or transformative opportunity. The Great Outdoors campaign is an example of seizing a historic opportunity to build an outdoor education campus and this campaign will address our current space needs and ongoing facilities challenges. What changes will I see to the campus and when will I see them? What about parking and crossing the street? Weather permitting, we expect construction to last 15-18 months after breaking ground. The safety of our students and the entire school community is a top priority. With the current construction activity of the Museum of Fine Arts and the Glassell School of Art, we are working closely with our project management team to ensure construction fencing and other safety protocols are in place. Details regarding parking, drop-off, and pick-up will be communicated on an on-going basis. How can I learn more about the Campus Master Plan? Please email Ashlea Taylor, Head of Institutional Philanthropy, at ataylor@pshouston.org if you would like more information on the new Early Childhood and Lower School building or the Middle School renovations.
PROMISE OF TOMORROW It’s not what you look at that matters . . . it’s what you see. At Presbyterian School, we see promise in children and have Confidence in every Child. We strive to develop that promise each and every day. We invite you to see the promise in our children, to feel the eagerness and excitement of the future and be part of an unmatched Early Childhood through Middle School institution.