REBUILDING THE PAST FOR THE FUTURE
The Capital Campaign for Herron High School
Shaping Tomorrow’s Leaders
The extraordinary success of Herron High School is a leading example of innovation in public
education. Tuition free and open to all, Herron High School brings world-class educational
opportunities to students in the city’s underserved, urban neighborhoods. Exceptionally high
community demand for a Herron High School education has outstripped the capacity of the
physical facilities. To maintain this forward progress, Herron High School must proceed with
the restoration and preservation of its campus. Once restored, the “Main” building will add
20,000 square feet of key learning space.
Our Plan for Success
Phase I Stabilization of Main $500,000 √
Phase II Purchase and Renovation of Fesler $3,300,000
Phase III Renovation of Main $1,500,000
Campaign Total $5,300,000
Phase 1: Stabilization of Main (completed)
Funding was received by the Allen Whitehall Clowes Foundation to stabilize the building to prevent further damage to the structure.
Phase 2: Purchase and Renovation of Fesler
Renovation was completed in the fall of 2011 utilizing low-interest qualified construction bond proceeds secured through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. These bond proceeds were secured with the expectation that the Capital Campaign would retroactively fund this phase.
Phase 3: The Main Building
Herron High School’s “Main” building was designed by the famous French architect Philip Cret. This 1928 Beaux Arts style building was the second building in the nation devoted exclusively to instruction in the arts. The north walls of this building were constructed primarily of glass windows to provide the coveted “north light” which is much favored by artists.
This historical building will be the future home of our Science and Art Departments. The much anticipated Lyceum will be located on the main level and will become the core of our campus.
The Lyceum
Aristotle founded the original Lyceum near Athens, c. 335 BC. The Lyceum was a center of study and research in the sciences, philosophy, politics and literary theory. Originating from the Greek L.keion, a lyceum has come to be known in modern times as a school or forum for offering lectures, concerts, and community discourse.
Herron High School’s Lyceum will be housed in the campus building known as “Main.” Featuring several new learning spaces, art studios and science labs, the centerpiece of Main’s renovation will be the new Lyceum. Designed with the school’s classical, liberal arts focus in the forefront, the Lyceum will draw inspiration from the traditions of classical antiquity. In a unique confluence of historical tradition and state of the art technology, the Lyceum will be a place to reflect, connect, research, create, present, and collaborate.
While the Lyceum will be technologically equipped to meet the demands of digital-age learning, it is more about an intellectual ideal than a physical space. The Lyceum will provide students with the opportunity to take learning beyond the boundaries of space and time. It will be a place to build community, to form creative collaborations, and to connect with the rest of the world. The Lyceum will be furnished with flexibility in mind and will be designed to grow and adapt with changing technology.
The Science Wing
Herron High School’s unique approach and classical methodology, combined with a focus on the arts and classics is liberal arts education at its best. The rigorous curriculum, Advanced Placement and dual credit programs have earned national recognition for preparing students to succeed in college.
Herron High School requires students to engage in four years of mathematics and
four years of science, thus exceeding the state’s requirements for the Honors Diploma. The extraordinary graduation
and college acceptance rates are testimony to the school’s success.
The future science wing will feature state-of-the-art tools and technology required to inspire and prepare students to pursue careers in the Life Sciences, a field rapidly becoming vital to the state’s economy.