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New performing arts center, expanded library dedicated at Carmel High School

Prayers were recited and holy water was sprinkled Wednesday at the official dedication of new performing arts and library facilities at Carmel Catholic High School in Mundelein,

Ground was broken in June 2012 for the Fine and Performing Arts Center and Information Commons that were years in the making. The $6.2 million project was funded by the Carmel at the Threshold Capital Campaign.

School administrators, school board members, donors and some faculty members attended the blessings. A Mass in the Salvi Arena that followed was attended by the entire student body of about 1,350.

“I’m so honored for the whole community, the faculty, the staff, parents, students and donors,” said Judith Mucheck, president of Carmel Catholic High School. “Everybody has a piece in the celebration today.”

The performing arts center is 33,000 square feet and features three visual art classrooms, an art gallery, and choral and instrumental rooms with three accompanying practice rooms each.

There’s also a photography lab, black box theater, an area for set construction and a dance studio and computer lab. The facility will allow for the addition of fine and performing art classes.

“I love it,” senior Clare Rasmussen said. “The new Fine and Performing Arts Center opens up more opportunities for students to try the arts. If I had extra credits to use, I would have liked to have taken a photography class.”

The capital campaign included funding for the expansion of the school library. At 11,000 square feet, the library has complete wireless access and includes an audio/media production studio and a 10-station computer lab.

The project was initiated because of overcrowding in classrooms and to prevent students from going to other schools with better fine arts facilities, Mucheck said last year at the groundbreaking.

  Judith Mucheck, president of Carmel Catholic High School, speaks with the Rev. Carl Markelz, Order of the Carmelites, about the library expansion. It was part of a $6.2 million capital project, including a new performing arts center, at the Mundelein school. Gilbert R. Boucher II/gboucher@dailyherald.com
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