You Imagined... a technologically-enhanced environment for expanded course offerings in every academic discipline to accommodate the tremendous growth of our student body — doubling the size of the current high school building to open new opportunities for learning success.
You Finished Strong... after 12 years and three ambitious projects, you gave sacrificially to the mission of Mount Paran Christian School to complete the final $12M goal, and ultimately a $32M overall campaign.
For God's Glory... we are forever grateful and thankful for the generosity of our parents, staff, grandparents, supporting foundations, and corporate partners. Without your joint vision on this final project, space for innovative learning would not be possible for our students!
IMAGINE… THE MURRAY INNOVATION CENTER
Since MPCS moved to its current location 16 years ago, the high school has experienced tremendous growth in enrollment (138 students in 2003, 450 in 2019), all while housed primarily in Dozier Hall, which was designed to accommodate just 250 students. The space demands created by increased enrollment and a shifting curricular emphasis urgently required a state-of-the-art innovation center addition, providing needed facilities for bright, committed, and God-honoring students. This center will provide the necessary environment to academically prepare our young servant-leaders.
The Murray Innovation Center Breaking-Ground Ceremony occurred in February 2021. The date of completion was January 2022, with students beginning classes Spring semester of 2022. Watch the inspirational video, which launched the campaign below.
Young people grow into Christ-following adults with extraordinary intentionality. When acquisition of knowledge and biblical principles are intertwined in every aspect of a child’s development, young learners become grounded, confident, and mature Christian adults who understand joy-filled purpose and calling. That is why MPCS exists and why an MPCS education is so profoundly meaningful – for college, life, and eternity.
Innovative approaches to learning coupled with steadfast traditional techniques gives all types of learners access to tangible information. The Murray Innovation Center will open doors to so many more possibilities for innovative learning than ever before. As we turn our focus to completion of the construction of the high school expansion, Dozier Hall renovations, and the completion of the overall campaign goal of $31.7 million, our prayer continues to be that we are faithful stewards of the Lords' blessings to forever benefit the students of MPCS. Thank you for playing a part in imagining tomorrow!
History of the Imagine Tomorrow Capital Campaign
A VISION COMING TO FRUITION
Mount Paran Christian School has taken a major step toward the vision of becoming the exemplary Christian school in the metropolitan Atlanta area by launching the Imagine Tomorrow Capital Campaign. The goal is to expand academics, arts, and athletic facilities and programs, while continuing to grow the Annual Fund each year. This campaign is not about buildings. It is about the continued commitment and enhanced ability to provide “academic excellence in a Christ-centered environment.”
Now complete, the first two phases of the campus expansion projects associated with the Imagine Tomorrow campaign are listed below. The final phase three (outlined above) to build an innovation center expansion of the high school is currently in the strategic planning process and is scheduled to break ground in 2020.
PHASE 1: Murray Arts Center
In late 2007, this $38 million state-of-the-art performing arts facility was successfully acquired for $16.5 million with a generous lead gift of $10 million from the Stuart and Eulene Murray Foundation. Completing the purchase by raising the remaining $6.5 million was the first priority of the campaign and was achieved by December 2012. The Murray Art Center possesses, among others, the following features:
- A 577- seat concert hall and theater
- An oversized black box theater
- Three dance studios
- Orchestral and choral rehearsal suites
- A grand reception hall
- A recording studio and video production suite
- Classrooms and sound-proof practice spaces
PHASE 2: ATHLETIC STADIUM
Following the 2014 football State championship win and generous cash donations totaling $3 million, the Catherine Steele Sewell Stadium was completed in August 2015. This beautiful, well-appointed facility serves sports and performance teams as they compete (football, soccer, track/field, cheerleading, marching band, and lacrosse). The 2,500 seat stadium includes the following features:
- A turf field
- A ticket center
- A sports medicine center
- Concessions and consumer plaza
- Restrooms
- A track surface
- A press box
- A locker room
The diagram below outlines the three phases of the campaign and the 12-year progress to date.
In the Press:
- How to Imagine, Innovate, and Build for the Education of Tomorrow - WingTips
- Building for the Future - Around Acworth
- Cobb Christian School to Build $11 Million Expansion - Atlanta Journal Constitution
- Mount Paran Creates an Award-Winning, Community-Supported Capital Campaign (PDF) - Marietta Daily Journal
- Mount Paran Christian to Break Ground on $11 Million High School Expansion (PDF) - Marietta Daily Journal
- Overdue space for STEAM classes
- Spaces to expand engineering and PLTW® courses
- Maker space labs and materials
- Robotics construction area and fabrication lab
- Ideation zones and laptop zones
- Digital theatre lab
- Student collaboration areas, including chat and share rooms
- The Roost café for the student-run coffee shop next to a wide-open student commons with natural light and views of lake landscape
- Dedicated space for various classes in various subject matters, with mobile furniture, screens, and glass marker boards
- Cutting-edge, flexible space and equipment to catalyze and support creative, project-based intellectual inquiry and interdisciplinary instruction
- Student quiet study zones and comfortable seating
- Outdoor café seating and event space
- Outdoor natural classroom built into rock and landscaping
- Relocated main high school entrance to administrative offices and registrar
- Renovated Dozier Hall administrative offices and new teacher pods
- Art and graphic design studios move to the Murray Arts Center in a newly-renovated and dedicated space on the first floor
Contact us to learn more!
