Convent of the Sacred Heart Launches $25.5 Million Campaign for Facilities Expansion, Renovation

The private girls Convent of the Sacred Heart (CSH) announced the launch of a $25.5 million capital campaign, “Framing Our Future: Today, Tomorrow and Forever” to expand, renovate and redesign facilities, including the construction of a new athletic field house.

The campaign and construction plans were announced at a Thursday night reception for trustees, parents, faculty and staff. (A schematic of how the campus will be developed is below.)

“This is truly an exciting time as we envision an even more wonderful campus for years to come,” said Board of Trustees chair Paula Tennyson.

The first phase of “Framing our Future” seeks $25.5 million in capital gifts to support the construction of a new athletic field house, an expanded and renovated student dining room, outdoor learning and social spaces, new roadways, and parking. Plans include the addition of a state-of-the-art dance studio, squash courts, fitness room and multi-purpose gymnasium.

“We have already raised more than $13 million in gifts and pledges from our generous donors,” said Head of School Pamela Juan Hayes ’64. “Our goal is to physically transform our campus by creating spaces that encourage the values of faith, character, community, courage, sportsmanship, teamwork, leadership, critical thinking and reflection.”  

The “Framing Our Future” campaign co-chair are trustees Neil Augustine and Doug Mellert, both of Greenwich, and fathers of CSH students. 

The school has made several recent investments including the purchase of its 118-acre campus from the Society of the Sacred Heart, which had held the deed since the 166-year-old school opened at its current location of 1177 King St. in 1945 after a move from New York City. Enhancements have been made to classrooms and technology, STEM and STEAM initiatives, and to advanced courses in science with charter membership in Cold Spring Harbor’s DNA Learning Center and membership in the national Online School for Girls.  

“This is an extraordinary start, and we have plans and municipal approvals in place to begin construction in May 2014,” Augustine said.  

“This campaign will produce an exciting physical transformation of our campus, Mellert said. “We will enhance an already vibrant and successful athletic program and create both new and expanded community spaces for our students.”

At its Jan. 13 board meeting, the trustees approved a May 2014 start date so the new facilities will be ready for the 2015-2016 school year.

The alumnae community will celebrate the launch at a liturgy in February in the school chapel. Alumnae giving is under the leadership of two alumnae who are current parents and trustees, Mandy Murphy ’85 and Lisa Fallon ’89. The leaders of the parent campaign are Dolly Mayer and Cynthia van Eck.