By Jessica Easthope
For students and faculty at Xaverian High School, the biggest challenge has there’s not enough of it — until now.
This spring the school will break ground on its Exploration and Innovation Center — a $26 million new wing that will transform how students learn and grow at the Bay Ridge high school.
“Amazing teachers that are always looking to dream big, now this is an opportunity for them to really dream and to be able to have the space to support their dreams in building a curriculum,” said President Bob Alesi, a Xaverian Clipper from the class of 1978.
The center will feature a state-of-the-art science lab, a fabrication lab for hands-on creation, and a rooftop terrace. The existing St. Michael’s Chapel will also be moved into the new wing, keeping faith at the heart of the expansion.
“It’s so important for us to make sure that we have spaces for kids to be kids,” Alesi said. “They want to be with one another, and this will provide an opportunity for them to do it in a really dramatic and beautiful way.”
Right now the school has 1,700 students walking the halls. Alesi says the new wing will be used by all of them from sixth grade up to 12th grade.
“The purpose of the new wing is really not to increase our enrollment,” Alesi said. “But to be able to make use of the space in a much more efficient and appropriate way for teaching and learning.”
The Exploration and Innovation Center will support all of their strengths and interests.
“Our hope is that it will cover all disciplines and all curriculum, and allow for every student at some point during their time here at Xaverian to be able to benefit from this new space,” said Alesi.
Alesi says the project, which is being funded through a capital campaign, also allows alumni the chance to give back to the place that shaped them.
“This allows us to continue to grow our academic programs, our spiritual programs, our extracurricular programs, and really chart the path for the next generation of Clippers,” Alesi said.
The Exploration and Innovation Center will be fully operational for the 2027-2028 school year.