Following the successful completion of Chaminade’s Soaring to New Heights capital campaign, the real excitement is about to begin. Much as it takes a village to raise a child, it has taken a village to make raising Chaminade’s buildings possible. For it was the Chaminade community that rallied around the new Master Plan, attending council meetings in full force in an impressive show of support.
One of the first challenges was (what proved to be) a year-long process to secure the approval of the Los Angeles City Planning Commission. The Commission gave its approval to Chaminade’s High School Campus Plan at a March hearing, expressing appreciation for the work Chaminade had done in addressing community and neighborhood council concerns. Many parents, alumni, parents of alumni, faculty, staff, Board of Directors, and students came out to support Chaminade at the hearing. This substantial showing by the Chaminade community helped ensure the Commission’s eventual decision to grant approval, including a Zone Change and Height District Change.
Six students spoke at the hearing, and all were amazing representatives of the school. Kylee Williamson ’26, Andrea Palma ’28, Devon Lopes ’26, Brady Ahn ’25, Kiana Duldulao ’26, and Davis Weiser ’25 gave persuasive testimony, helping to make the case for the project.
More recently, Los Angeles City Council meetings held in April and July resulted in approval for the Zone and Height District Changes needed to go forward with the Campus Plan. The Council’s approvals were secured, paving the way for the anticipated final approval by Mayor Karen Bass in late September.
Along with the Chaminade community, Chaminade’s Board of Directors and its Physical Facilities Committee contributed a great deal of work to the process, as did Director of Facilities Chris Landon ’78.
With all approvals in hand, the North Campus Project will commence, with groundbreaking scheduled for this fall. Phase One of the Campus Plan includes a new two-story administration and welcome center, which will house the administration, library, counseling offices, and new classrooms. A new pedestrian bridge across Saticoy Street will link the center to the athletic complex, sports field, and student parking. Emphasis will be placed on changes that maximize student safety and enrich the student experience
Coming enhancements, thanks to the Fritz B. Burns Foundation, include a new greenhouse and outdoor classroom for more hands-on science courses. A new class, “Sustainable Social Enterprise: Nursery Operations & Business Strategy,” inspired and made possible by the new greenhouse, will enable students to experience running a functional nursery, to learn business strategy, and practice social entrepreneurship. The plants grown by the students will be provided free to the public and non-profit organizations in exchange for optional donations.
Renovations to the indoor and outdoor weight rooms, made possible through the support of the Grassini and Crawshaw families, will enable Chaminade athletes to realize their full potential through the opportunity to practice in state-of-the-art facilities and attractive outdoor spaces.
At the middle school campus in Chatsworth, substantial upgrades and renovations have already been completed over the summer. These changes include a new gym floor, the Norton Peace Garden, a new front entry courtyard, a bus queuing area, and new drop-off and pick-up zones that improve student safety. Yet to come, middle school 1960s-era structures will be remodeled, and a new science lab and STEAM lab will be built in their place.
Construction updates will be posted on the Soaring to New Heights campaign webpage chaminade.org/soaring, with the latest renderings of buildings, timeline milestones, photographs, and videos of the work in progress.
As President Robert S. Webb said, “This project is more than buildings and bridges; it is an investment in the next generation of Eagles who will love, learn, and lead in ways we can only imagine today.”
The project has all been made possible by the generous gifts to the campaign, which not only met but surpassed Chaminade’s $7.5 million goal for Phase One of the Two-Campus Master Plan. The remaining costs will be met through philanthropic funding, capital reserves set aside by the Board, and debt financing.
Exciting times indeed for Chaminade as it prepares for the 21st century and beyond!