MINNEAPOLIS – The Opus Group announced today the completion of the new 96,000-square-foot student activities center for Saint Thomas Academy in Mendota Heights, Minn.
“It was a pleasure working with Saint Thomas Academy to translate their vision of a multi-phased student activities center to reality,” said Craig Larson, vice president of Opus Design Build, L.L.C. “Through collaboration, we conceived a design and a construction timeline that exceeded their expectations and resulted in dynamic learning and activities spaces.”
Named Vincent J. Flynn Hall, the new facility provides spaces for art and music, academics and athletics. The athletics areas include a competition gymnasium seating more than 1,300 and an auxiliary gymnasium, as well as a large meeting room, health education classrooms, weight room, locker room, and office space for coaches and physical education instructors.
A two-story structure connects the new athletic facility to the school’s existing main building and includes a main entrance and lobby, classrooms and a school bookstore on the ground level. The upper level houses fine arts space with a band and choir suite, and a new art and multimedia room.
“Vincent J. Flynn Hall is a beautiful, refreshing addition to our campus, and one that will help Saint Thomas Academy compete for students against comparable schools in the Twin Cities while providing a much enhanced learning environment,” said Headmaster Dr. Thomas Mich. “We maintained full enrollment, excellent academics and winning teams with our previous facilities, but this new space gives us the ability to expand the use of technology, improve fine arts and science facilities, host sports camps, tournaments and community events, and challenge students in new ways.”
Additionally, Opus remodeled existing space within the main building. Previous athletic spaces were converted into art and social studies classrooms and the previous band room was remodeled into a lecture hall capable of seating approximately 100 students. Two large art classrooms in the middle school were converted into new state of the art chemistry labs and classrooms.
The project was completed in August prior to the start of the school year.
About The Opus Group
The Opus Group®is a family of commercial real estate companies headquartered in Minneapolis with offices and projects across the country. Opus operates as an integrated, multidisciplinary team with expertise in development, capital markets and finance; project management and construction; architecture, engineering and interior design; sales and leasing. The Opus Group includes Opus Holding, L.L.C. and its operating subsidiaries: Opus Development Company, L.L.C., Opus Design Build, L.L.C. and Opus AE Group, L.L.C. Specializing in office, industrial, retail, institutional, residential and government projects, The Opus Group has broad capabilities, deep experience and a proven design-build model that delivers solutions for customers on time and on budget. For more information, visit www.opus-group.com.
About Saint Thomas Academy
Founded in 1885, Saint Thomas Academy is an all-male, college preparatory, Catholic, military/leadership school committed to preparing young men to succeed in college and in life. Nationally accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS), the Academy challenges young men to excel academically, spiritually, morally and physically in and out of the classroom. For more information, please visit www.cadets.com.