Archbishop Cupich blesses upgraded fine arts facilities at St. Viator
Students attending St. Viator High School in Arlington Heights are in for some changes when they begin school next week.
The Catholic school recently completed a $3 million renovation of its fine arts facilities and the Fr. Louis Querbes Hall, a dining hall that will also be used for co-curricular programs.
In his second visit to the school this year, Archbishop Blase Cupich blessed the new additions during a dedication ceremony Sunday, thanking contributors for investing not only in the school, but also in the students.
“I really do find that Catholic education, especially at a secondary level, is a top priority,” Cupich said. “We need to bond together in ways that make it possible for many families to enjoy the great privilege of schools like St. Viator.”
The fine arts renovation includes a larger Visual Arts Center on the second floor, upgraded to make it easier for students to integrate iPads into the arts program.
The center also includes 3-D printers, electric kilns and a spray booth.
Also part of the renovation are new band and choral rooms, featuring updated sound systems and more storage.
The renovations were funded by endowments and donations.
“Today is the culmination of a long journey that will provide facilities that will enhance the educational experience for each student here and every student that's coming for decades,” said Rev. Fr. Corey Brost, the school's president.
Following Sunday's ceremony, student ambassadors gave visitors a tour of the completed school.
The fine arts renovation project was the final phase of a $14 million investment allocated to update various parts of the school in recent years.
“The renovations help students feel valued,” said Erica Frett, director of the Scanlan Center, which was built in a previous phase of the project for students who need additional support.
“There's a specialized space unique to (the students') needs that gives them the ability to advocate for themselves.”
Catering to individual students' needs was a large reason for the entire renovation project, Brost said.
With the renovations, he said, “young men and women will find themselves in the best of who they can be.”