The Bolles School held a groundbreaking ceremony last month for a new interdisciplinary learning environment on the Bolles Middle School Bartram Campus.
Held on Thursday, Sept. 17, the ceremony marked the start of construction on the new Alban Arts and Innovation Center, designed to advance creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving.
The roughly 6,800-square-foot center will be located at the former North Hall. It will include an innovation lab equipped with 3D printers and a laser cutter, a visual arts studio with a kiln, the Von Der Ahe science classroom, and the Cangemi Music Room, which will provide dedicated rehearsal space for chorus and band and private music instruction.
A lead gift of $4 million from Bolles Board of Trustees Member Bree R. Alban and David Alban made this center possible, along with additional support from Bolles Board of Trustees member Marion Cangemi and David Cangemi, Peter Von Der Ahe and his sons Reid, Ethan, Graham and Cole, and Blake Griffis and Liza Griffis and their children Evie, Vaughn and Vale.
“The Alban Arts and Innovation Center will establish a new standard for our middle school experience, connecting the arts, technology, and collaboration while giving students the freedom to explore new ideas and bring them to life,” said Bolles President and Head of School Tyler Hodges. “We are exceedingly grateful to these Bolles families for recognizing creativity and innovation as essential to how students learn to make a difference and lead in the world beyond Bolles.”