Dozens of Garces Memorial High School parents, students, alumni, faculty, friends and benefactors gathered Wednesday morning at the historic northeast Bakersfield campus to celebrate the near completion of the first phase of the high school’s future.

It was all part of a special grand opening and open house highlighting three large new classroom buildings, part of what Garces calls The Next 75 Capital Campaign, a plan to build and prepare for the school’s next 75 years.

The $6.7 million project included the construction of three classroom buildings, temporary classrooms during construction, furnishings, technology, landscaping and site improvements.

The expanded campus will increase instructional capacity while preserving the welcoming character and architectural heritage of Garces Memorial, said Lou Ann Durrett, director of development at Garces.

“This milestone would not have been possible without the extraordinary generosity of our alumni, parents, grandparents, the Bakersfield Catholic Education Foundation, and friends of Garces,” Durrett said. “Every gift made this vision a reality.”

Garces is, first and foremost, a Catholic institution, so before the classroom tours began Wednesday morning, the Rev. David Lopez, pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, offered a prayer and read verses from the book of Genesis before visitors began tours of a newly completed classroom.

As visitors gathered in a wide circle around him, Garces Memorial High School President Steven Antongiovanni talked about the joys and challenges of the more than yearlong project, and what it means for students, teachers and others who will benefit from the improvements.

Antongiovanni told the gathering he worked closely with architect Pat Fogarty of AP Architects and with general contractor S.C. Anderson.

“They managed almost the entire build. And with me, it’s been like a really healthy marriage,” the campus president quipped.

“There’s been some arguing,” he said, drawing laughter, “but everything always gets resolved.”

Fogarty also attended Wednesday’s open house.

“When I first came on board last year … we walked the classrooms, and the first thing I said was, ‘These classrooms haven’t changed since I graduated in 1976,” Fogarty remembered.

“I was kind of amazed and Steve (Antongiovanni) said the same thing. He goes, ‘We have got to do something here.’”

What they did in every new classroom reflected Antongiovanni’s determination to enhance the security and educational experience for students. As a result, each new classroom includes interactive display boards and Apple TV technology; flexible learning spaces; large whiteboards and 360-degree tackboards; energy-efficient lighting and HVAC systems; remote-locking classroom doors and an expanded security system.

Last but not least, a crucifix in every classroom will remind students that Christ remains at the center of all they do, Garces leadership said in a news release.

There was a kind of quiet excitement that filled the air as tours began. Everyone involved seemed to understand the day’s significance.

Katie Werdel, a parent of a 17-year-old junior at Garces, also served on the Capital Campaign Committee to raise money for the project.

“I’m a big supporter of Garces and Catholic education, and it’s a wonderful school and a wonderful environment,” she said. “My son is very happy here and having these new classrooms is just a step in the right direction for the future of the school.”

And the teachers deserve updated classrooms as well, Werdel said.

“You know, they were working out of classrooms that were built in the 1940s,” she said.

The design of the campus will continue to be inspired by its long fidelity to Spanish colonial architecture. The Spanish tile roofs, Santa Barbara-style stucco, classic archways, and stained-cedar details will continue to reflect the campus’ historical roots.

“This project is a big deal for our campus,” Antongiovanni told a group of visitors on a classroom tour.

“It was a long time coming,” he said. “We’ve been talking about it for 10 years, maybe more.

“This is not cheap. This is expensive,” he added. “But, you know, hopefully in 30 years, we can upgrade it again.”