The Casady School has received a $12 million donation for a $23 million Upper Division Dining and Engagement Center.
In response to this generous donation from Gay and Ed Kirby and their family, the school was able to obtain additional pledges from donors for nearly 95% of the total project.
“Casady has had a tremendous impact on our family,” the Kirbys said. “Our daughter Laura received the Alumni Achievement Award in 2010, and her education at the Casady School laid the foundation for her to become a successful entrepreneur in life.”
“As a member of the Board of Trustees, I see the school’s fiduciary and fiscal responsibility through strategic planning and masterful campus development under exceptional leadership,” said Gay Kirby. “We are proud to be members of the Casady community and are grateful for the way the school fulfills its mission to make such an incredible difference in the lives of each and every one of its students.”
The approximately 30,000-square-foot student-centered facility will be designed as a modern, state-of-the-art building designed to significantly enhance the dining experience while expanding community space to support and facilitate student enrollment growth for grades 9 through 12. It is planned to be located east of the Chapel of Saint Edward the Confessor, marking a spectacular shift from the center of the high school students’ campus experience to the spiritual epicenter of the school’s foundation.
“I want to express my thanks and appreciation to Gay and Ed Kirby and their family, whose philanthropic spirit inspired a transformative gift that funded a significant portion of this new dining and engagement center,” said Nathan L. Sheldon, head of school at Casady School. “The Kirbys’ generosity paved the way for several more donations from members of our Casady community. These supporters have an exceptional understanding of the positive impact this new facility will have on future generations of Cyclones.”
“Our goal is to foster our strong sense of community for all of our high school students and to meet our school’s programming needs as we continue to face increasing enrollment pressures as the population of the greater Oklahoma City area grows,” said Sheldon. “The Kirby Family Hall will also serve as a showcase venue where members of our Casady community will gather for special events throughout the year.”
Features of the new Kirby Family Hall for dining and celebrations include:
● Gaylord Student Commons.
● David W. Gorham Terrace, overlooking the school’s lake, Jaume Plensa sculpture, Founders Memorial, and the newly designed Class of 1969 Butterfly Garden.
● Dining room, kitchen and pantry.
● Laura’s Cafe, a refreshment bar and cafe.
● Browne Family Library and Media Center.
● Academic advisory and administrative center for senior high schools.
● Meeting rooms.
● Additional classrooms for students
● Walk west across the lawn in front of the chapel, where the school’s outdoor graduation ceremony continues to be held each May.
● Redesigned parking and sidewalk configurations.
The school hopes to begin construction in the first quarter of 2025 once the remaining $2 million is secured.
The opening of the new building is planned for the beginning of the 2026/27 academic year.
In addition, the Casady School just completed a $35 million comprehensive campaign, bringing the total amount of funds raised over five years to nearly $60 million. The comprehensive campaign supports faculty and endowment growth, the Annual Fund campaign, and building and facilities priorities. Capital projects in the comprehensive campaign include the expansion and renovation of the Loeffler Primary Division to accommodate a nearly 30% increase in enrollment for grades PreK and Kindergarten, the 8,000-square-foot Mathis Family Strength and Performance Center, the 4,000-square-foot Jeff Records Computer Science Center, and the Payne Family Stadium and Edwards Field Hockey Field, a water-based synthetic turf field for one of the school’s most prominent athletic programs.
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Aerial view of the Kirby Family Hall for dining and celebrations east of the Chapel of Saint Edward the Confessor and overlooking Lake Casady. |
