Whitefield Academy celebrated a milestone with the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Lower School, Brostrand Hall on April 15. Just one year ago, the school publicly launched its $24 million “Leaving a Legacy” campaign to include building the new academic building for grades PreK-4 on its 100-acre campus. Over the past 12 months, fundraising progressed quickly, allowing for groundbreaking and the start of construction this spring.
The new building is named in honor of former Lower School Principal, Jeannie Brostrand, who was an integral part of the Lower School since its inception in 2002 and led its growth and development as one of the first teachers hired, and then as principal for 12 years until her retirement in 2018. Brostrand demonstrated incredible dedication and commitment to the Lower School at Whitefield, and Brostrand Hall ensures that her leadership and legacy will remain a part of the school in perpetuity.
While the school had worked quietly on fundraising for a few years, the public launch in 2018 really catapulted the effort. “Thanks to the dedication and vision of many, we are blessed and humbled to be at this point just one year after our public campaign launch,” said Director of Development Lauren Race. “The logo of the Leaving a Legacy campaign is a shade tree, symbolizing the generous donors who gave funds to ‘plant trees under whose shade they will not sit.’”
Whitefield Head of School Dr. Kevin Bracher said, “Many of our largest donors to this campaign will not directly benefit from the use of this new building - but they believe in the larger mission of Whitefield Academy and they understand the need to invest for our future growth by creating the best quality spaces to serve our youngest students in a building that is safe, beautifully designed, and dedicated to meeting their educational needs. Brostrand Hall will do that. We are thankful for the vision of Leaving a Legacy donors willing to “plant” a building for future generations to come.”
Scheduled for completion by the August 2020 start of school, Brostrand Hall will serve 270-300 students. In addition to classroom space, Brostrand Hall will provide dedicated space for Lower School dining, as well as a state-of-the art media center. The new building will be located at the back of campus near other classroom buildings, with a new campus entrance gate and carpool stacking lane to accommodate drop off and pick up routines separate from the older student traffic. In addition to the lower school building, a new athletic practice field will be added near the new campus entrance. The field will help to accommodate the need for additional field space for existing football, lacrosse, and soccer teams in the Middle and Upper schools. The building design was completed by Collins, Cooper, Carusi, and Evergreen Construction was selected for construction. Management will be led by Gleeds Atlanta.
“We are looking forward to being under one roof in a modern and vibrant space with new furnishings. The one-building design gives us an opportunity to showcase the creativity and excellence of our students and foster a culture of collaboration among all grade levels,” said Lower School Principal Maryellen Berry. “I am looking forward to witnessing the excitement and pride of students and teachers when they gain access to the work of each other on a daily basis – such as when first graders hear the recorders playing in third grade music - students begin to anticipate their own learning journey!”
In addition to the new Lower School building, the campaign has already funded completion of a new tennis complex, acquisition of additional land, and expansion and upgrades to the kitchen and dining spaces for Middle and Upper School students and staff.
The new building is named in honor of former Lower School Principal, Jeannie Brostrand, who was an integral part of the Lower School since its inception in 2002 and led its growth and development as one of the first teachers hired, and then as principal for 12 years until her retirement in 2018. Brostrand demonstrated incredible dedication and commitment to the Lower School at Whitefield, and Brostrand Hall ensures that her leadership and legacy will remain a part of the school in perpetuity.
While the school had worked quietly on fundraising for a few years, the public launch in 2018 really catapulted the effort. “Thanks to the dedication and vision of many, we are blessed and humbled to be at this point just one year after our public campaign launch,” said Director of Development Lauren Race. “The logo of the Leaving a Legacy campaign is a shade tree, symbolizing the generous donors who gave funds to ‘plant trees under whose shade they will not sit.’”
Whitefield Head of School Dr. Kevin Bracher said, “Many of our largest donors to this campaign will not directly benefit from the use of this new building - but they believe in the larger mission of Whitefield Academy and they understand the need to invest for our future growth by creating the best quality spaces to serve our youngest students in a building that is safe, beautifully designed, and dedicated to meeting their educational needs. Brostrand Hall will do that. We are thankful for the vision of Leaving a Legacy donors willing to “plant” a building for future generations to come.”
Scheduled for completion by the August 2020 start of school, Brostrand Hall will serve 270-300 students. In addition to classroom space, Brostrand Hall will provide dedicated space for Lower School dining, as well as a state-of-the art media center. The new building will be located at the back of campus near other classroom buildings, with a new campus entrance gate and carpool stacking lane to accommodate drop off and pick up routines separate from the older student traffic. In addition to the lower school building, a new athletic practice field will be added near the new campus entrance. The field will help to accommodate the need for additional field space for existing football, lacrosse, and soccer teams in the Middle and Upper schools. The building design was completed by Collins, Cooper, Carusi, and Evergreen Construction was selected for construction. Management will be led by Gleeds Atlanta.
“We are looking forward to being under one roof in a modern and vibrant space with new furnishings. The one-building design gives us an opportunity to showcase the creativity and excellence of our students and foster a culture of collaboration among all grade levels,” said Lower School Principal Maryellen Berry. “I am looking forward to witnessing the excitement and pride of students and teachers when they gain access to the work of each other on a daily basis – such as when first graders hear the recorders playing in third grade music - students begin to anticipate their own learning journey!”
In addition to the new Lower School building, the campaign has already funded completion of a new tennis complex, acquisition of additional land, and expansion and upgrades to the kitchen and dining spaces for Middle and Upper School students and staff.