Chesterton Academy of Milwaukee, a Catholic classical high school, has outgrown its home in a former parish grade school building. To meet the needs of a growing student body, the school is adding a gymnasium, theater, art room, science laboratory classroom, administrative offices, and additional classrooms.

The proposed design of the addition reflects the school's classical curriculum, expressing through architecture the same ideals of beauty, order, and tradition that students encounter in their studies. A rhythmic composition of arched windows, classical capitals, a water table, and a full entablature gives the new building a dignified presence while harmonizing with the historic character of the campus.

The addition is carefully woven into the existing parish campus, which includes the church, rectory, convent, and cemetery, creating a unified architectural ensemble across the site. Sited thoughtfully on a sloped portion of the property, the building minimizes the loss of parking, preserves existing vehicular and pedestrian circulation, and limits the cost and disruption of site adaptation.

Together, the new spaces will support Chesterton Academy's mission to form students in truth, goodness, and beauty---giving them not only the facilities they need, but an environment that reflects the values at the heart of a classical education.