Courtesy of Seton Catholic Prep
Seton Catholic Prep has begun construction on a new air conditioning project for McMahon Gymnasium as part of their larger efforts to build a brand-new Event Center on campus.
“Part of the vision for Seton Catholic includes what our facilities and grounds will look like in 2027 when we celebrate 70 years. The community response has been great with over $5 million in grants and donations over the past three years to modernize our campus through various improvement projects. Adding air conditioning to McMahon Gym supports this vision and we are all excited to start the next school year with this becoming a reality by the first day of classes in August,” said Seton Principal Victor Serna.
This summer’s construction, which has already begun, will include the expansion of the
mechanical yard, installation of an HVAC unit, the addition of chiller lines from the mechanical yard to the gym and the addition of other infrastructure that will be needed for the larger Event Center project. Expected completion is in early August.
Funding for the project has come from generous donations to the Founded in Faith – Building on Excellence capital campaign, with overarching goal to help Seton Catholic build a brand-new multipurpose Event Center on campus. The Event Center will feature a new gymnasium/event center space for sports and extracurricular activities, added classrooms, and adequate space for celebrations and civic engagement.
Additionally, Seton Catholic is the recipient of a $132,500 Youth and Amateur Sports Grant from the Arizona Sports & Tourism Authority for the air conditioning unit.
The Event Center project is part of the larger Master Building Plan at Seton Catholic and includes recent projects such as the installation of lights on the baseball and softball fields, the renovation of 17 classrooms and science labs on the historic campus, renovation of the
Monti Library Media Center and Sister Joan Marie Madden Courtyard beautification, all of which have helped transform Seton’s campus. These projects combine for well-over $5 million in fundraising to fund the vision of first-class facilities to match the first-class academic standards at Seton Catholic.
“Introducing the community to what we’re doing and getting involved at the municipal level is so important to the success of Seton and the overall greater success of our tri-city area of Chandler, Tempe and Mesa,” said Sal Flore, capital campaign chair. “These projects and projects like the Event Center give us a way to showcase the kind of school we have.”
About Seton Catholic Preparatory: A 2017 National Blue Ribbon School, Seton Catholic Preparatory is a diocesan, coeducational high school in Chandler, Arizona, open to students of all faiths and dedicated to academic excellence, leadership and loving service to others. For 65 years, Seton Catholic has served the East Valley of Phoenix as the only Catholic college preparatory high school, serving young men and women from parochial, private, charter, public and home schooling backgrounds. Seton Catholic graduates earn scholarships to attend an array of selective colleges and universities, including state, private and Ivy League schools as well as service academies. Seton Catholic is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools, and the Western Catholic Education Association. www.setoncatholic.org.
