In a much anticipated announcement, Head of School Meredith Essalat revealed to the community that NDB had reached its $8M capital campaign fundraising goal, making it possible to begin construction on a brand-new STEM wing on the new third floor. NDB’s social media released multiple teaser clips that promoted the main event on August 20.
A large crowd gathered in the Father Downey Garden to receive the announcement. Essalat first acknowledged the contributions of many NDB community members, including several generous donations totaling $5M, that made beginning the project feasible.
The next steps for the renovations include obtaining permits, working with a contractor and communicating with a construction company. The Board hopes to move forward with physical construction in December, and expect for the project to be completed by August of 2026.
The new addition, which Essalat describes as a place to “meld mission with the sciences,” will replace NDB’s current historic facilities with upgraded technology and equipment.
“Our science labs are from 1968, right? I’m so excited for our incredible science and math teachers, our STEM department, to have this space because their education is unparalleled…I think it’s going to be like a think tank that our community really needs,” Essalat said.
Along with Essalat, Kristen Degnan was one of the main drivers behind the success of the campaign. Degnan served as the co-chair of the capital campaign and made it possible for the project to receive enough funding to begin.
“Phase One is what we’re doing right now: the STEM wing.” Degnan explained. “Right now, we’ll do planning and then we’ll do construction. It will open. But in the meantime, we’re always building a capital campaign and trying to get money for endowment.”
Maggie Blanchard, a senior and member of NDB’s TigerBots team, expressed her excitement about the upcoming changes. “It’s so exciting, particularly as an all girls school, to have such a strong STEM program. We already have such amazing STEM teachers, and it’s so great now that we’re going to have such nice facilities. It’s really good to get more women in STEM and encourage more.”
Many Notre Dame families were excited not only about the opportunities it would provide their daughters, but also instilled confidence in NDB’s support and community engagement.
Christie Costa ‘92, the mother of current freshman Megan Costa, said that her initial reaction was a mixture of shock and happiness for the resources the project would provide for her daughter and the rest of the community. “Chills. Chills up my arms. Just for so many people to donate to Notre Dame – they deserve this. They really do.”
Degnan finished, “I think it’s going to be a big opening for Notre Dame, in terms of trust and growth and the fact that we can do a capital campaign, and we can make it happen.”
