St. Monica Catholic School Renovation

St. Monica Catholic School and Church were founded in 1954 on a 10.8 acre site in northwest Dallas.  Initial construction consisted of a school with the church meeting temporarily in the cafeteria.  Rapid and consistent growth spurred the additions of more classroom buildings, gyms, a convent, a rectory, and a permanent sanctuary.

GFF was hired to develop a comprehensive campus master plan accommodating the needs of both the church and the 900 student Pre-K to 8^th grade school.  Planning and design considerations focused on incorporating the Pre-K program into the body of the school, enclosing open corridors, improving campus security and accessibility, upgrading MEP systems, and refreshing the appearance of the original school buildings.

Phase I of the masterplan was recently constructed and included installing energy efficient windows, improving air distribution and lighting in the classrooms and corridors, making the restrooms accessible, installing ramps to connect various floor levels, securing the perimeter of the school with a combination of fences, secured gates, and storefront entrances, and refreshing the interior finishes.  The renovation was accomplished mostly over the summer of 2020 and the school reopened in time for the fall semester.

Prior to engaging in a building project on an existing campus, it is important to assess how efficiently existing spaces are being used before adding new space. Our team can help in the assessment process by performing existing building use studies and feasibility studies to help our clients prioritize necessary renovations and additions.