St. Viator fine arts department getting $3 million renovation

St. Viator High School in Arlington Heights is beginning a $3 million renovation of the school's fine arts facilities, planned to be completed in August 2015.

The renovation is the final phase of a $14 million investment that also has included a new cafeteria and other upgrades at the school over the past few years.

"This is an incredible time for Saint Viator High School," the Rev. Fr. Corey Brost, the school's president, said in a news release. "As we celebrate the receipt of our second Blue Ribbon award in 2014, these new facilities will double the space available to our fine arts students, providing the latest in 3-D technology to visual arts and world class band and choral areas, acoustically designed to enrich the quality of our musical program and student development."

The fine arts upgrade includes new rooms for chorus, band and art, officials said. Engineers worked with students and teachers to plan the renovation.

"We also involved our educators and students in defining their needs, resulting in breakthrough thinking and innovation in design and educational impact," said Steve Bucks, director of building and grounds. "We wanted to guarantee that the designs will lead to a facility capable of a significant educational growth and flexibility as needs evolve over the next 50 years."

The art room will nearly double in size to a 2,794-square-foot space that will integrate 3-D printers and technology, high-firing kilns, and room for future gallery showings.

"The impact of technology on the arts is huge," said Bill Faltinoski, fine arts department chair. "We're building the art room for the next 25 years."

A larger band room will allow for guest artists to visit for recitals and workshops, officials said. There also will be room for studio-like recordings that will help students applying to college music programs.

The renovations are being paid for through endowments and donations, officials said.