Challenge

Sheboygan Lutheran High School embarked on its largest expansion in school history, responding to growing demand for modern fine arts, STEM, and leadership-focused spaces. Key challenges included:

• Building a 33,000 sq ft Faith & Leadership Center centered on a 600-seat auditorium with a 1,600-sq ft stage to support robust performing arts, music, drama, and collective gatherings.
• Incorporating music classrooms, a robotics lab, a renovated science wing, and an inviting atrium, all within a coherent facility appropriate for both school and community use.
• Raising substantial funding: the expansion came with a construction cost of approximately $10 million, executed via a capital campaign that raised $4.7 million upfront and financed the rest.
• Ensuring the project met various stakeholder expectations, students, faculty, donors, as well as technical standards for acoustics, performance tech, classroom integration, and accessibility, all while completing construction amid an active academic calendar.

Solution

1. Catalyst Construction managed the project execution in partnership with Abacus Architects and Sheboygan
2. Lutheran leadership: Delivered on-time completion in November 2020 of the Faith & Leadership Center, featuring a 600-seat performing arts theater, stage, music classrooms, robotics lab, renovation of the science wing, additional classrooms, and a large atrium.
3. Oversaw the successful Capital Campaign “Impact Tomorrow Today”, which raised more than $4.7 million from over 400 donors, achieving an impressive 99% pledge fulfillment rate.
4. Implemented construction sequencing that allowed existing academic and extracurricular programs to continue, while outfitting the new facility with modern theater lighting and audio, flexible rehearsal and classroom spaces, robotics lab infrastructure, and accessible common zones.

Impact

• The new center transformed LHS’s capabilities in fine arts, STEM, and community outreach, delivering a multipurpose performing arts theater and high-tech labs that significantly raise the educational experience.
• Since opening, over 15,000 people have experienced the Center across various events:
  • 15 concerts with ~4,400 attendees
  • 12 community events with ~4,000 attendees
  • 7 musicals/drama performances with ~2,600 attendees
  • 6 community worship services with ~2,200 attendees
  • 5 dance recitals with ~1,500 attendees
  • Plus, 2 SALSA graduations and regular chapel services for 200+ students and faculty.

• The expansion invigorated the school’s mission of Preparing Christian Leaders – One Student at a Time, providing physical space aligned with curriculum, community engagement, and faith-based leadership development.

• Enhanced the school’s standing in the region, now providing professional-grade performance space, STEM labs, and collaborative environments that bolster enrollment, staff recruitment, and community visibility.
• Strengthened donor engagement and financial stewardship, with a campaign that showed high community investment and commitment to the school’s future.