Padua Franciscan High School in Parma announced a $16 million capital campaign, “Achieving Excellence,” the largest fundraising effort in the school’s 64-year history. School officials said the campaign, which launched on May 27, so far has raised $11.2 million. Money raised will be used to construct a new athletic center and transform the current gym into a dedicated performing arts center. The campaign has been gaining momentum privately since 2024, they added.
A new 29,000-square-foot athletic center will be connected to the southwest corner of the school near Padua Stadium. The facility will include a 14,000-square-foot gymnasium space that provides two full-size courts for practice and tournament competitions. It will accommodate approximately 1,300 spectators.
The additional 15,000-square-foot space will include a grand concourse for entrance, which will house a ticketing booth, lavatory facilities, a Bruin Shop kiosk and a concession stand for both stadium and gym venues. Also, four locker rooms will be constructed providing a space for Padua girls, Padua boys, visiting teams and officials. A sports medicine room, as well as the athletic department offices, will be relocated to the new space.
During the second phase of construction, the current gymnasium will be renovated into a performing arts center for both vocal and instrumental instruction, performances and theatrical productions.
The front of the facility, closest to the school’s current lobby, will house a new vocal classroom and a new band room. The 1,500-square-foot vocal classroom will include an expanded fine arts office, storage areas and a ticket booth and concession space. The 2,500-square-foot band room will include a director’s office, new individual practice rooms and instrumental storage. The current band room and the current vocal classroom and office spaces located behind the stage will be renovated to create theatrical support spaces including a scene shop, costume design room and additional storage for the fine arts programs.
Utilizing state-of-the-art acoustical design, the tiered 295-seat auditorium would include the expansion of the wings of the main stage, as well as an extended front stage.
Padua President Dave Stec ’86 made the announcement in Padua’s gym at the campaign kickoff event that also honored Padua’s campaign contributors and leadership volunteers.
“We are very excited about this future vision for Padua, especially as it will add a new building to our campus for the first time in the school’s history. The initiatives supported in this effort will drive Padua forward and keeps us at the forefront of providing an outstanding Franciscan educational experience,” said Stec. “We are eternally grateful for our alumni, current families, board of trustees, campaign leadership team and the friends of Padua who are supporting this campaign.”
Padua Franciscan High School, located at 6740 State Road, Parma, is a college-preparatory, co-educational school with 777 students and 13,000 alumni. It was founded by Franciscans in 1961 and bases its educational philosophy on the life and spirituality of St. Francis of Assisi. The school’s mission is to develop the unique talents of each student, while giving them the skills they need to succeed in college and beyond.