For the last decade, Jesuit has embarked on its most ambitious project yet: Ad Majorem: The Campaign for Jesuit Dallas. Through the campaign, Jesuit raised 150 million dollars to make the construction of the new wing possible, in addition to creating 78 new endowments and 74 new planned gifts. Featuring an expanded front entrance, a new chapel and modernized learning spaces, the Ad Majorem campaign will enhance academic opportunities and resources for students while supporting their safety and continued faith. The expansion will also allow for faster travel between classrooms, improved gathering spaces and smoother traffic flow throughout campus.
Following The Roundup’s initial coverage of the campaign featuring special insights from Mr. Alex Soich, Vice President of Finance and Operations at Jesuit, about the development of the project, construction wrapped up in early June of this year. Students in summer school already had their turn to explore the new wing. Now, as students and faculty return from break, the expansion will be in full use, further enhancing the Jesuit experience.
“As a whole, it’s spectacular. I can’t say enough about it.”
– President Mike Earsing
As the ribbon was cut, The Roundup was grateful to conduct an interview with both President Earsing and Principal Garrison, while also receiving a tour from Director of Development Mrs. Abi-Habib. Throughout the tour, Mrs. Abi-Habib shared insight into the development of the new wing, as well as the purposes and opportunities it will provide for the Jesuit community in the years to come.
Front of the School
One of the most visible upgrades, the front of the school has undergone a major transformation, highlighted by an eye-catching porte-cochère. The new structure incorporates an expanded learning center and an overhead canopy for carpool, giving the space multiple functions. For carpool, the area will improve traffic flow with three lanes, designated seating for students waiting to get picked up and additional visitor parking.
“We added in an extra lane, so now there’s three total lanes for carpool, [as well as] about 30 new parking spots.”
– Mrs. Abi-Habib, Director of Development
Situated at the entrance to campus, the front reception also received a significant upgrade, including an expanded lobby, a secured entry and an enlarged seating area for guests.
“I think it’s good [that Jesuit is] always renovating, while keeping the feel of the old Jesuit buildings.”
– Jett Pruitt ’27
Landon Family Administration Suites
To the left of the entrance are the Landon Family Administration Suites, which house President Earsing, Principal Garrison, a few of the assistant principals and finance offices.
Admissions and Enrollment Suite
To the right of the entrance is the Admissions and Enrollment Suite, which provides a welcoming first impression for guests and prospective students at Jesuit. The new space also features the Zeck Family Conference Room, which will be used for parent coffees and admissions interviews, as well as new office locations for Mr. Host, Dr. Kirby, and Global Citizenship and Inclusion. Additionally, the nursing station received a major upgrade, with an expanded space located at the front of the school in the area formerly occupied by the Information Commons.
Tinker Family Catholic Center
Thanks to the generosity of Audrey and Dan Tinker ’92, the new Tinker Family Catholic Center has been constructed and will serve many purposes for students, faculty and guests.
Presidential Reception Hall
Past the Landon Family Administration Suites is the Presidential Reception Hall, an expanded replica of the former Historical Library located in the Tinker Family Catholic Center. This hall features artwork from the Jesuit Dallas Museum, which will be showcased alongside museum opening events and other art exhibitions. Several rows of seating are also arranged throughout the space, primarily for prospective parent coffees and other admissions receptions.
Gehan Family Archives
Within the Presidential Reception Hall is one of the most elaborate features of the new wing: the Gehan Family Archives.
“For years, we have just had our archival pieces in a closet. [However], in this space, we were able to put some of our archives on display to show the history of Jesuit.”
– Mrs. Abi-Habib, Director of Development
Stories of Jesuit’s history are displayed along the walls, while historic Ranger artifacts, including pieces from the original Oak Lawn Jesuit campus, are preserved in glass cases for viewing. An interactive touchscreen is also mounted on one of the walls, allowing students and visitors to explore old yearbooks, historical photographs and other digital archives. With so much history to explore and countless artifacts to discover, the archives offer an engaging way for visitors to connect with Jesuit’s past.
Many of the archival pieces were donated by alumni and the parents of former students, collectively showcasing 85 years of Jesuit Dallas history. As the final feature of the Ad Majorem campaign, the Presidential Reception Hall was one of the most elaborately crafted spaces in the new wing, showcasing some of Jesuit’s finest artwork and history throughout the campus.
“You think about how much has been built, it’s really a lot. It was a long time and there were a lot of people [involved].”
– President Mike Earsing
St. Ignatius Chapel
The St. Ignatius Chapel features three entrances, opening into a grand nave that seats approximately 350 people. Perhaps the most striking feature of the chapel is its elaborate stained-glass windows, each depicting a story related to the life of St. Ignatius and his journey toward forming the Society of Jesus.
“You have St. Ignatius to the left of the altar and St. Aloysius Gonzaga to the right [of the altar]. The five smaller windows to the right [of St. Aloysius Gonzaga] depict St. Peter Faber, St. Francis Xavier, Pedro Arrupe, who coined the term ‘men for others,’ St. Stanislaus Kostka and St. John Berchmans. These were all saints who were instrumental in forming the Jesuits.”
– Mrs. Abi-Habib, Director of Development
Also featured throughout the chapel are the Stations of the Cross, Jesuit crosses incorporated into the chandeliers and altar railings and an organ donated from the home of a former Jesuit teacher. As an additional safety feature for Jesuit, the St. Ignatius Chapel will also serve as a tornado shelter for the school in the event of a weather-related emergency. Completing the front of the school and the Tinker Family Catholic Center is the Donor Recognition Hallway, constructed to recognize those who made the Ad Majorem campaign possible. This whole side of the building faces Watters Way, the name for the new carpool entrance to Jesuit.
Academic Center for Excellence
The Academic Center for Excellence is another major addition to the new building. Located on the second floor, the center houses many of Jesuit’s academic resources and support services outside of the traditional classroom setting.
“The idea here was to consolidate all the academic spaces [around campus] into one communal area.”
– Mrs. Abi-Habib, Director of Development
Entrance
The area can be accessed through the new staircase fitted with a floating glass railing system. Upon entering, visitors are greeted by another interactive monitor mounted alongside the new Academic Wall of Honor. This monitor provides information about merit scholarships and other forms of academic recognition at Jesuit throughout the years.
Student Resources
One of the most prominent features of the Academic Center for Excellence is the new Learning Resource Center (commonly deemed as the “LRC”), which has been expanded from its previous size. Next to the LRC are three group conference rooms for student use, along with the Math Lab and the newly created Writing Lab. Like the Math Lab, the Writing Lab will be staffed with an English teacher throughout the school day.
To support student life, the halls of the Academic Center for Excellence also feature seating and small tables, providing students with additional spaces to collaborate and study without having to sit on the floor.
Past the LRC is a bundle of administration offices, independent study rooms and the new Testing Center. This room, featuring a phenomenal view overlooking Inwood Road and Barry Borodkin Senior Lot, is double the size of the previous Testing Center. While the old Testing Center could only fit 20 to 25 students at a time, the new space fits double the amount, with 50 to 55 students.
Other Additions
Among the other additions to the floor is a new conference room for student programming and meetings, as well as a new publications lab to serve The Last Roundup and The Roundup, equipped with computers and additional meeting space. Completing the new wing are several additional classrooms located along the hallway connecting A-hall to the Academic Center for Excellence, along with more commons and office spaces for students and counselors.
“There is going to be so much light here…all these places for guys to hang out and just be present with each other building community together, so I’m just thrilled.”
– Principal Tom Garrison
New Connections
One major benefit of the new wing is the reduced travel time it provides for students. Not only does it reconnect the gap that was lost during construction between the A and B-hallways, but it also creates a new shortcut from the counseling commons to A-hallway. This shortcut will allow students, who once walked three to five minutes from the counseling commons to their A-hallway classes, to travel between these two areas in the span of roughly a minute or less.
Conclusion
Ultimately, this project does more than connect students, it connects spaces and brings the campus together. With these new connections, the new wing will become a central hub of campus life, further emphasizing Jesuit’s call to come together and build community.
The Roundup expresses its gratitude to Mrs. Abi-Habib for providing information and leading a tour of the new wing, as well as to President Earsing, Principal Garrison, Jesuit administration and all of the benefactors and donors who made the completion of the Ad Majorem campaign possible. Through their efforts, students at Jesuit will benefit from expanded opportunities, resources and spaces that will enhance their development as men for others.
“I think God wants us to use our gifts to serve him and to celebrate him, and this gives us a place to refine and hone our gifts so that it all goes to Ad Majorem, the greater glory of God.”
– Principal Tom Garrison
Tune into The Roundup for more campus news coverage!
Featured Image Credit: Hill & Wilkinson General Contractors
