Vision 2030

The first phase projects are prioritized to address security enhancements and improve campus functionality for our students.  FBCA will soon commence construction on the security vestibules at the Lower and Middle School and Upper School main entrances and a locker room addition to the Upper School Gymnasium.

Security Vestibules:  These controlled entrances have become common place in public and independent schools across our region.  They will allow for limited access while a campus visitor’s credentials are validated.  The additions will be part of a more-comprehensive campus security plan that includes investment in additional law enforcement presence, bullet-resistant window film, additional security cameras and enhanced monitoring capability, and barricade devices that enable individual classroom lockdowns. 

 

Upper School Gym Locker Rooms:  This project enhances dressing space available to our female athletes and will serve those sports practicing or competing in the gymnasium as well as softball, cross county, track and soccer.  This expansion also allows for FBCA students and visiting teams to have distinct locker room space rather than utilizing the public restrooms near the entrance.

Estimated Schedule for Current Projects:

Construction

• Lower and Middle School Security Vestibule – Completed August 2024

• Upper School Vestibule – Fall 2024 – Spring 2025

• Upper School Gymnasium Locker Rooms – Fall 2024 - Fall 2025

The most pressing issue that factors into the prioritization of future projects is capacity on our campuses.  As we describe our current challenges at this time, there is no plan to dramatically increase overall school enrollment.  Nominal growth will likely occur with the completion of these projects in the grade levels impacted by expansion of the Lower and Middle School Campus.  Our hope is that expanding and improving this campus will increase the number of existing FBCA students transitioning from Middle School to Upper School.  We believe that decreasing the volume of transferring students at the Upper School and encouraging earlier transition to our school will have a positive impact on school culture.  With any growth, we expect to preserve the quality and character of our student body and partner with Christian families who align with our mission. 

Lower and Middle School Campus:  The greatest capacity concern regarding the Lower and Middle School Campus is in the Middle School.  At present, the second floor is occupied by the 5th - 8th Grades.  Navigation from class to class and access to lockers is a challenge for our Middle School students due to hallway congestion.  Also, there is minimal storage on the second floor and no flexible classroom space.  While there are concerted efforts to separate younger students from older students, the close proximity of 5th grade with older Middle School grade levels is less than optimal.  To help alleviate these challenges, it is our desire to build a 7th and 8th grade center to house up to eight classrooms with an open seating foyer.  

 

Estimated Schedule for Middle School Expansion:

Construction:  Begin in Early 2025

 

Upper School Campus:  The greatest facility challenges facing the Upper School Campus at present are the necessity to use the Annex for classroom space and limited cafeteria seating in the Eagle Cafe.  It is also believed that the Learning Commons area on the second floor could be better utilized and more effective for our students and staff.  As such, we are working with our facility consultants and architects regarding a potential expansion of the Upper School that would create new concepts of the public spaces identified above and absorb the Theology classes currently held in the Campus Annex building.  With this, new classroom design and construction may focus on modernized science and technology spaces.  We believe that the containment of most Upper School classes in a single building enhances security as well as the learning experience for our students. 

Field House Renovation:  The current design of the Field House allows for the build-out of an additional locker room, coach’s office, and film and meeting room with the relocation of the weight room to an area currently used for storage.  The addition of a third locker room allows for both Upper and Middle School athletes to have designated spaces.  These additions will improve game day logistics by providing an officials’ dressing room and a dressing space for other FBCA teams hosting practices.  In addition to football, this expansion allows the Field House to better serve cross country, soccer, track, and baseball as well as our Middle School health and fitness students during the school day.  This element was previously communicated as a Phase 1 project.  At that time, the projected cost was less than what is currently known.  To embark on this construction now creates a risk of delaying the Lower and Middle School Campus expansion and we feel it is best to reprioritize this project.

Upon the completion of these projects, we will reassess our ability to fund and commence the next phase of projects.  At present, the current projected cost of all projects for the Vision 2030 campaign is $20 million.  The commencement of future projects will be contingent upon a combination of the school’s cash reserves, success of a capital campaign targeting these projects, the amount of equity and debt we target to put into the project(s), prevailing interest rates, and construction costs at that time.  Given these variables that we have to weigh, we cannot yet definitively say when these projects will begin. 

 

 

These projects do not cover all facets of our campus master plan.  As we work through the projects outlined here, other elements of our master plan may emerge as needed priorities.

Another project that has garnered great interest is the creation of a multi-purpose facility to host Chapel, assemblies, and other traditions and school performances.  This type of a facility is a widely-held want and would benefit all of our students on campus.  As part of the engagement with our architects and consultants, we will work with school leadership, the Office of Spiritual Life, and Performing Arts faculty to appropriately scope and cost this project.  More information will be forthcoming as ideas for this element of our campus are refined.