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Greenwich's Convent Of The Sacred Heart Celebrates Construction Milestone

GREENWICH, Conn. -- Convent of the Sacred Heart celebrated another milestone as the "topping off" ceremony for the $25.5 million expansion of its athletic complex and expanded cafeteria was held on the Greenwich campus Thursday.

Construction worker Alejandro Aguilar grabs the ceremonial beam with a Convent of the Sacred Heart flag attached to it during the "topping off" ceremony Thursday for the school's new athletic center.

Construction worker Alejandro Aguilar grabs the ceremonial beam with a Convent of the Sacred Heart flag attached to it during the "topping off" ceremony Thursday for the school's new athletic center.

Photo Credit: Frank MacEachern
Convent of the Sacred Heart students and staff gather Thursday for the "topping off" ceremony at the school's new athletic center.

Convent of the Sacred Heart students and staff gather Thursday for the "topping off" ceremony at the school's new athletic center.

Photo Credit: Frank MacEachern
The front entrance of the new athletic center at Convent of the Sacred Heart.

The front entrance of the new athletic center at Convent of the Sacred Heart.

Photo Credit: Frank MacEachern
Pictured is an artist's rendition of the expanded athletic center at Convent of the Sacred Heart. The new athletic center is the brown colored structure at top. In the upper center is the current athletic center that will attach to the new building.

Pictured is an artist's rendition of the expanded athletic center at Convent of the Sacred Heart. The new athletic center is the brown colored structure at top. In the upper center is the current athletic center that will attach to the new building.

Photo Credit: Convent of the Sacred Heart
The ceremonial beam - with Convent of the Sacred Heart flag attached to it - is raised during the "topping Off" ceremony Thursday for the school's new athletic center.

The ceremonial beam - with Convent of the Sacred Heart flag attached to it - is raised during the "topping Off" ceremony Thursday for the school's new athletic center.

Photo Credit: Frank MacEachern
Signatures on the ceremonial last beam at the "topping off" ceremony at Convent of the Sacred Heart on Thursday.

Signatures on the ceremonial last beam at the "topping off" ceremony at Convent of the Sacred Heart on Thursday.

Photo Credit: Frank MacEachern

"It is so exciting for the school, and I think it brings us into a whole other phase of excitement and accomplishment of opportunities that the girls have," Paula Tennyson, Convent of the Sacred Heart board chairman, said after the event. "A lot of people have worked very hard to make this happen."

The new athletic facility is driven by the needs from of the school’s many sports teams and by an increased student population, which now numbers around 750, said Kathleen Failla, director of public relations and communications for the King Street school.

The DuBois Gymnasium, which has been home to the school's indoor sports for 24 years, will be attached by an atrium to the new athletic facility.

The athletic complex is expected to be open in September. The new 35,600-square-foot complex will include two high school basketball courts, six international squash courts, a fitness room, a dance studio, a trainer’s suite, locker rooms and offices.

A new student dining room will be constructed, which will expand the current dining area by more than 60 percent. The open area between the athletic complex and the main building will also be landscaped with a plaza between the main building and athletic center and a small amphitheater.

"I hope today that you feel the pride that all of us feel in having this wonderful building," Head of School Pamela Juan Hayes told the assembled students and staff at the end of the ceremony. "But we are most proud of who we are as a community and who we are with one another."

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