News Detail
Spaces Built to Last: 100 Years on Tacoma Ave
As Annie Wright Schools continue to grow and evolve, our campus is transforming to reflect this progress. From enhancing academic spaces to creating state-of-the-art athletics and arts facilities, our commitment to improving our physical environment underscores our dedication to shaping the next 100 years.
Modern Spaces for Creativity and Connection
In the summer of 2022, AWS took the first steps toward modernization by removing the 1932 swimming pool and adjoining locker rooms in the basement of our century-old building. These unused and outdated spaces were cleared to pave the way for future art spaces, classrooms, and lounges tailored to our Middle School students.
Thanks to the incredible generosity of our AWS community at the Crab Feed event in 2023, we raised $500,000 to support these ambitious projects. By the summer of 2023, the Middle School Unification and Arts Hub initiatives were underway. We wouldn’t be where we are today without the support from the H. E. Anderson Foundation, whose generous seven-figure donation made The Pearl Student Lounge (named for Pearl Marie Brooke '24) and Anderson Pilip Brooke Hall (which houses the Middle School) possible and deserving of their names. The former swimming pool area was transformed into a recording studio, a textile lab, a dance studio, and a music and theatre rehearsal room. Additionally, the Little Gym was reimagined as a two-story space containing three classrooms, offices, and an updated lounge to accommodate all three Middle School grades, while the library hallway was extended to seamlessly connect the Middle School to the main building.
Completed and fully activated by January 2024, these enhancements have significantly benefited our Middle School students, uniting them in one cohesive space and fostering a stronger connection to the broader school community. The upgraded arts facilities have empowered our Gators to further explore and develop their creative minds!
Building Wellness: Modernizing Kemper Gym for a Healthier Community
The next priority was upgrading the Kemper Gym and creating a fitness center designed to serve not only our students but also our faculty and staff. Guided by our commitment to health and wellness, we recognized the importance of providing spaces that support physical and mental fitness for everyone in our community.
In the summer of 2024, after initial delays due to the permitting process, work on these enhancements began. Originally built in 1985, the Kemper Gym was ready for modernization. Planned upgrades include a triple-sized athletic training room, renovated locker rooms, a cutting-edge weight room, and a wellness center featuring three distinct spaces: a multipurpose studio, a student fitness room, and a dedicated faculty fitness room. The project also includes two external bathrooms for James Field to enhance convenience for outdoor activities.
As of November 2024, the foundation has been poured, and framing is underway, We're eagerly anticipating the project's completion by March 2025, marking significant steps forward in supporting the overall well-being of our Annie Wright community.
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Modern Spaces for Creativity and Connection
In the summer of 2022, AWS took the first steps toward modernization by removing the 1932 swimming pool and adjoining locker rooms in the basement of our century-old building. These unused and outdated spaces were cleared to pave the way for future art spaces, classrooms, and lounges tailored to our Middle School students.
Thanks to the incredible generosity of our AWS community at the Crab Feed event in 2023, we raised $500,000 to support these ambitious projects. By the summer of 2023, the Middle School Unification and Arts Hub initiatives were underway. We wouldn’t be where we are today without the support from the H. E. Anderson Foundation, whose generous seven-figure donation made The Pearl Student Lounge (named for Pearl Marie Brooke '24) and Anderson Pilip Brooke Hall (which houses the Middle School) possible and deserving of their names. The former swimming pool area was transformed into a recording studio, a textile lab, a dance studio, and a music and theatre rehearsal room. Additionally, the Little Gym was reimagined as a two-story space containing three classrooms, offices, and an updated lounge to accommodate all three Middle School grades, while the library hallway was extended to seamlessly connect the Middle School to the main building.
Completed and fully activated by January 2024, these enhancements have significantly benefited our Middle School students, uniting them in one cohesive space and fostering a stronger connection to the broader school community. The upgraded arts facilities have empowered our Gators to further explore and develop their creative minds!
Building Wellness: Modernizing Kemper Gym for a Healthier Community
The next priority was upgrading the Kemper Gym and creating a fitness center designed to serve not only our students but also our faculty and staff. Guided by our commitment to health and wellness, we recognized the importance of providing spaces that support physical and mental fitness for everyone in our community.
In the summer of 2024, after initial delays due to the permitting process, work on these enhancements began. Originally built in 1985, the Kemper Gym was ready for modernization. Planned upgrades include a triple-sized athletic training room, renovated locker rooms, a cutting-edge weight room, and a wellness center featuring three distinct spaces: a multipurpose studio, a student fitness room, and a dedicated faculty fitness room. The project also includes two external bathrooms for James Field to enhance convenience for outdoor activities.
As of November 2024, the foundation has been poured, and framing is underway, We're eagerly anticipating the project's completion by March 2025, marking significant steps forward in supporting the overall well-being of our Annie Wright community.
