Facilities

Curtis students attend classes, lessons, and rehearsals in a group of historic and beloved mansions that are in constant use. Much-needed maintenance on these buildings has been too long deferred due to scheduling constraints, and students are hard-pressed to find adequate space and time to practice. To continue to attract the most gifted students, Curtis must provide facilities that fully support its educational objectives.

Curtis is now addressing these longstanding concerns thanks to the generosity of Gerry and Marguerite Lenfest and more than 245 donors who stepped forward to fulfill the Lenfest Challenge to build an additional facility. That campaign covered all construction costs and provided nearly $1 million toward a $5 million endowment that will help to support the building's annual operations. The building was substantially completed during FY 2011, under budget and on schedule to open in time for the 2011–12 school year. (Curtis continues to seek funds for the remainder of the $5 million endowment.)

Among the strategic steps Curtis took toward improving its facilities in FY 2011:

• managed the Lenfest Hall construction project on schedule and on budget, on track to open in August 2011
• completed plans for staffing, move-in, residence-life, and food services for Lenfest Hall
• created a Campus Facilities Master Plan to guide the renovation, restacking, and repurposing of all current facilities after moving many activities to Lenfest Hall
• implemented technology and security initiatives to connect all of our campus facilities
• created a marketing plan for summer programs and outside rentals

Photo: Tom Crane