Notre Dame Preparatory in Scottsdale began construction Monday, April 20 on the St. Catherine of Bologna Performing Arts Center, named for the patron saint of the arts.

The anticipated construction timeline is about 12 months but school administrators and the contractors believe the timeline may be less as the school is closed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Willmeng Construction was selected as the general contractor for the project, according to a press release.

“With no students or faculty on campus, the crew can work without interruption,” NDP President/Principal Jill Platt said in a prepared statement.

The over 20,000-square-foot facility, which HDA Architects designed, will house a flexible blackbox theater, recording studio and additional classroom space. It will also provide for the NDP community the following:

• Academic space to support theater, instrumental, choral, and digital video programs;
• Expansion of the performing arts curriculum to include theater tech and stage design; and
• Gathering space for large community events, including Mass, Christian service activities, lectures, parent gatherings and meetings.

“Our performing arts center will be a one-of-a-kind, state-of-the-art building that is unlike any other high school theater,” Ms. Platt said. “It will be amazing. I can’t wait for the day we open the doors for the community.”

The performing arts center is Phase I of a multi-phase campus build-out.

“As soon as Phase I is complete, we anticipate moving quickly to address other needs, including the completion of the stadium complex and STEM classrooms,” Ms. Platt said.

Funding for the building was made possible through the dedication and hard work of NDP parents Sheila and Dennis Doherty; John and Christina Hatherly; Tom and Juli La Porte; and Richard and Lynne Miller who served on the campaign executive committee.

“I cannot thank our parents, faculty, staff, advisory school board and outside donors enough,” Ms. Platt said. “It is their support, prayers and guidance that is making this dream a reality.”