SANTA ROSA, Calif.—With a completion date slated for September 2021, construction continues anew on the 24,000-square-foot classroom facility at Cardinal Newman High School in Santa Rosa, Calif.

Several months ago, ground was broken on a two-story building that will provide much needed classroom space for expanded educational offerings and curriculum. The building will enable the school to remove existing temporary portable learning spaces.

This project was made possible after the school embarked on a $38 million capital campaign to pay for the campus improvements in the aftermath of a wildfire in October 2017 that destroyed more than a third of the campus.

The new addition will encompass 18 classrooms, an art studio, four student collaboration rooms and two staff collaboration rooms. They will surround a central courtyard and be supplemented by outdoor learning spaces.

Sustainable design elements—energy efficient lighting and mechanical systems, low-flow plumbing fixtures, solar shading, operable windows, daylighting, and sustainably sourced materials—have been central to the complex’s design. The surrounding landscaping will be drought-tolerant and include systems for storm water retention.

Wright Contracting is the general contractor on this impressive project. Quattrocchi Kwok Architects is the architecture firm.

“It’s incredible to see the next piece of this campus’ transformation begin to unfold as Cardinal Newman continues to expand the facilities needed to keep pace with its vision for educational excellence,” said QKA Principal John Dybczak, in a statement.

“Designing this classroom complex was a collaborative effort between the school, project team, and the community that so faithfully supports these students. Designing flexible, contemporary classroom spaces that support student health could not be more paramount than it is in this historical moment.”

Added Cardinal Newman Interim President and Superintendent Linda Norman, “Intended to rebuild needed classroom space following the devastation and delayed by a global pandemic, this project symbolizes the resilience of our school and community in many ways. We have been thankful to have such a flexible and engaged project team and a generous donor community supporting our vision as it comes to life.”

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"The Center for Performing Arts will increase Western’s educational offerings and provide Macomb with a state-of-the-art music, dance and theater production facility," Quinn said at the funding announcement. "This is an investment in the school’s future."


According to current plans, the $71.8 million CPA will feature a 1,400-seat proscenium theatre auditorium with two balconies, a 250-seat thrust stage and a more intimate 150-seat studio theatre. A number of spaces including dance, music and theatre rehearsal studios, a VIP area, green rooms, dressing rooms, a scenery design workshop, costume shop, box office and administrative offices will further support the performance art programs. The CPA design is also on target for LEED Silver certification.

"We are elated that Gov. Quinn has released the full funding for the construction of The Center for Performing Arts in Macomb," said WIU President Jack Thomas in a release. "We are excited about beginning construction on this new facility that will benefit our students, faculty and staff, as well as the region.”

"This is a moment that will change the history of the College of Fine Arts and Communication, Western Illinois University and arts across the region,” added Billy Clow, College of Fine Arts and Communication dean. “The CPA will provide an outstanding space for our students and faculty, and will serve as a cultural center for the region. We are…thankful to Gov. Quinn and the State of Illinois for their support for this landmark project.”

Work on the CPA is also anticipated to benefit the Macomb community and surrounding region. "The Center for Performing Arts project will create hundreds of construction jobs over two and a half years,” Capital Development Board Director Jim Underwood said in a statement, “and we look forward to working with the skilled trades people that will make this marvelous facility a reality.”

The Illinois Board of Higher Education first recommended a $22.5 million appropriation for construction of the facility in 2002. In 2006, the Capital Development Board and WIU officials selected the center’s design team, and the final concept was finalized two years later. Though the university hosted a ceremonial groundbreaking in 2011, construction will likely begin in earnest in late 2014 or early 2015, following the selection of a construction manager. The facility is slated to celebrate its grand opening in the spring semester of 2018.

Cannon Design of Chicago served as the Architect of Record for the CPA project, and Pelli, Clarke, Pelli of New Haven, Conn. provided additional design expertise. Theatre Projects Consultants of Norwalk, Conn. and Kirkegaard Assoc. of Chicago provided theatrical and A/V and acoustical services. Affiliated Engineers Inc. of Madison, Wis. and David Mason Assoc. and Thornton Thomasetti Inc., both of Chicago, comprise the project’s engineering team.

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