Holy Comforter - The Commons

At approximately 20,000 SF, The Commons includes a performing arts space and dining hall with a full service kitchen bringing the students together for lunch and a variety of activities. A trellised courtyard provides a comfortable environment for students to enjoy the outdoors while eating.

The Commons also includes a “Gallery Room” to display student artwork and have the flexibility to be used as space for classes, meetings, etc. An “Alumni Donor Room” was constructed for meetings, workshops, presentations or other activities. The performing arts space includes a stage, state-of-the-art sound and lighting systems, separate dressing rooms for boys and girls, as well as two “Music/Band Classrooms” with a sound proof practice room. A lawn and maintenance equipment storage area were also included in the basement/lower level of the new building. To tie The Commons into the overall campus, brick masonry was used on the exterior of the building.

The project also included the development a new multipurpose stadium, with LED lighting, that also includes the school’s future track. The multipurpose facility was constructed on what was considered a natural feature wetland. The City and HCES developed a plan to develop a new wetland in an existing stormwater pond which now serves as a replacement for the wetland that the ballfield was built upon. It utilizes low maintenance interior and exterior materials, triple silver coated Low-E glazing, low flush toilets and LED light fixtures throughout and broad roof overhangs on the southern exposure provide ample shading.