Construction Completion Expected In 2023

Groundbreaking: Denver Academy Head of School Mark Twarogowski, front, and Board Trustee Dylan Geller, lead elementary students in the groundbreaking for Denver Academy’s new Performing Arts Center. Photo: Povy Kendal Atchison of Rockin’ A Studio

Denver Academy (DA), an independent school serving diverse learners in grades 1-12, hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for its new Performing Arts Center in May. Construction began this summer and is expected to be completed in 2023.

The May ceremony included the involvement of DA’s student actors and remarks on the project and its importance by Denver Academy Head of School Mark Twarogowski. The ceremony also included representatives from architects Clutch Design Studio, construction contractors JHL Constructors, and DA Theater Teacher and Alumnus Patrick Ring (Class of 2010). The Denver Academy Drumline performed, and speakers provided information and architectural drawings of the exciting plans for the building.

All Denver Academy students and teac

Rendering: The new Denver Academy Performing Arts Center will be 16,000 square feet and will replace the school’s current theater on campus.

hers attended the groundbreaking and additional attendees were by invitation only, including DA’s Board of Trustees and major donors to the school’s 50th Anniversary Building on Excellence campaign. The Shakespearean-themed event was sprinkled with busker performances and humor provided by members of the DA International Thespian Society. The youngest DA students also provided comic relief as the groundbreaking crew (small children, HUGE shovel).

The new Denver Academy Performing Arts Center will be 16,000 square feet and will replace the school’s current theater on campus. It will provide an inspiring setting for students to create, perform, and thrive. Highlights of the building include a grand 250-seat theater with sectional seating and a mezzanine, a black box theater, and vocal and instrumental music classroom spaces.

The Performing Arts Center will complete the construction projects funded by DA’s $25 million 50th Anniversary Building on Excellence capital campaign launched in 2016. In addition to the Performing Arts Center, capital campaign construction projects have included the James E. Loan Athletic Center and a renovated Elementary Building, both completed in 2019. The Building on Excellence campaign also raised $2MM for DA’s Endowment Fund.

Additional funds are still needed to complete the Performing Arts Center. Two generous donors have provided a challenge to match up to $500,000 to reach the fundraising goal for the building. Find out more and donate to the campaign at www.denveracademy.org/building-on-excellence-giving.