After celebrating nearly 120 years of providing exceptional education in our community, Rochester Catholic Schools is excited to announce the finalized design details for the new Lourdes High School. The unique campus configuration will provide over 165,000 square feet of academic, faith and extracurricular space that will inspire and enhance the student’s learning experiences.
“Rochester Catholic Schools has had a long history of providing outstanding education for our children,” said Denny Nigon, RSC President. “The new Lourdes High School has been designed for the future and will prepare students to think critically, globally and strategically for the 21st century and beyond,” said Nigon.
Technical and Environmental
Because the 21st century is rooted in technology and an understanding of global impact with decisions, success in today’s rapidly changing world will require a new level of knowledge and skills.
The new facility will feature classroom labs outfitted with reinforced sound and provisions for state of the art technology that includes campus wide high-speed, wireless computer access. “The new Lourdes High School will ensure our students and faculty have the technology-based tools they need to succeed in the future,” confirms Tom Donlon, Principal for Lourdes High School.
The design incorporates an infrastructure that will be responsive to the continued advances and demands of future technology and what it means for the learning environment. 
The new Lourdes High School will also offer the opportunity to bring environmental issues to life, as students will have the opportunity to study at the adjacent Cascade Meadow Wetlands and Science Center.
“We focused on designing learning environments that put the Lourdes students at the center. We are addressing the needs of the 21st century learner in a 21st century world,” concludes Donlon.
Sustainable Future
With a 21st century mission for making the most reasonable sustainable site design decisions, the new Lourdes High School uses a combination of innovation and sustainable solutions, using low maintenance, energy efficient materials and systems designed with tomorrow in mind.
The environmentally comprehensive design is the result of bringing a core volunteer and professional leadership group together that worked tirelessly for more than six years to get all the details right. “We’ve created a facility that is sustainable, forward-thinking and provides the highest standards of quality and cost savings ensuring responsible stewardship of our resources,”stewardship of our resources,” affirms Don DeCramer, member of the Lourdes Building Our Future Building Committee.
At the core of the facilities energy-efficient and long term cost-saving solution is the goal of utilizing geothermal heating and cooling. Playing upon the strength of the adjacent wetlands environment, the use of geothermal energy is a clean and renewable energy source because water is replenished by rainfall and heat is continuously produced inside the earth.
“Geothermal systems are quieter and require less maintenance, are environmentally friendly and are proven for lowering operating and maintenance cost.,” concludes DeCramer.
“We are very enthusiastic about the design that will enhance the Catholic education and liturgical experience for a all of the Rochester Catholic community", said Dean Beeninga, partner with ATS&R. “This effort will put Lourdes High School in an enviable position of not only having superior programs and opportunities for students now, but for also having a future facility with the ability to accommodate ever changing educational needs of students and the community well into the twenty-first century,” concludes Beeniga.
Preserving our Heritage and Tradition
The future campus features inspired design that represents Catholicism and a true sense of spirituality inside and outside that combines the most modern architectural forms with the traditional facets of Catholicism.
"The design of the new Lourdes High School masterfully blends the old with the new and combines many of the iconic features that hold special meaning to generations of our graduates,” said Nigon.
The overall building design features Kasota stone along with a bell tower within the chapel that honors the Franciscan heritage and the connection with Assisi Heights. The familiar door of the Center Street entrance will be placed into the new building, and the triptych stained glass images in the library that feature “Our Lady of Lourdes” will play a prominent role within the new building. The circulation desk from the library will also be placed in the new facility.
In a future update, look for a story about how the new Lourdes High School will incorporate more of the Franciscan heritage through a generous and beautiful gift from the Sisters of St. Francis.
Give to the Lourdes Building Our Future Campaign
The new facility and campus will help Rochester Catholic Schools continue to be accessible to the greater Rochester community by hosting community events, meetings, youth sports activities and social events.
“The new Lourdes High School will be one of the best schools in the region,” affirms LBOF Campaign Chair, Joe Powers. “The time is now to make a pledge and contribute to the capital campaign,” said LBOF Chair Joe Powers.
To make a pledge please click on the Gift/Donate section of this website or call Dennis Nigon at (507)424-1817.
Please click on the thumbnails below to see even larger images of the new school designs. The first fills out your monitor and the second thumbnail will download and is a large original image so you can explore the wonderful details with the structures.
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