Groundbreaking Held for Haskell Center for Science and Student Life

A ceremonial groundbreaking for the Haskell Center for Science and Student Life was held last night on Berry Field on the Munnerlyn Campus. The Haskell family, The Rev. Adam Greene, Head of School, Helen Rowan, outgoing Board of Trustees chair, Mike Grebe, incoming Board chair, and campaign chairs Alex Graham ‘00 and Amy Harris Wacaster ‘94 ceremonially put the first shovels for the new space in the dirt. Construction for the building will begin May 22, the week following Commencement.

View Haskell Center Groundbreaking Event Photos – May 9, 2023

Episcopal celebrated the public kickoff of Boldly ESJ, the largest capital campaign in the school’s history on March 2. To date the Boldly ESJ campaign has raised more than $19 million of its $26 million goal. The campaign has the full backing of the Episcopal faculty and staff, who have contributed roughly $260,000. The Boldly ESJ campaign focuses on four main goals: 1) the Haskell Center for Science and Student Life, 2) the renovation of the current Buck Student Center, 3) the renovation of current science classrooms, and 4) an endowment to promote the advancement of science on campus. The renovations of the older buildings will begin after the completion of the Haskell Center.

The almost 40,000 square foot building will provide vital upgrades for students and faculty. The first floor of the Haskell Center will house a new kitchen and dining hall that will double the size of the school’s current kitchen while providing indoor and outdoor areas for student and faculty dining. In addition, the second floor of the Haskell Center will contain cutting edge science classrooms for biology, chemistry, environmental science, and marine biology. Multipurpose space will serve robotics and technology innovation students. Completion of the Haskell Center for Science and Student Life is projected for the Fall of 2024.  

The Boldly ESJ campaign began in June of 2022 – only a year ago – and had hoped to raise $13 million before the groundbreaking ceremony.  With the campaign ahead of schedule, and with new donations and pledges arriving weekly, Episcopal was able to begin construction early so that students can use the new building sooner. 145 families, individuals, and foundations have  already donated to Boldly ESJ, and we have an additional 100 families, individuals, and foundations who have pledged but not paid anything yet.  We have general asks out to all Munnerlyn Campus families, and will continue over the summer with specific asks for alums and other families who have yet to donate or pledge.