New Centennial Center Opens at The Ethel Walker School
New Centennial Center Opens at The Ethel Walker School

Walker's celebrated the opening of its Centennial Center with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Saturday, October 29, 2016. The Centennial Center, which includes athletic, dance, and health and wellness spaces, is the capstone project of the school's $50 million capital campaign which began in 2011, the year of the school's centennial.

Following remarks by board chair Katharine O'Brien Rohn '82, Centennial Center task force co-chairs Elizabeth R. Cesare and Lynn S. Manger '59, former head of school Elizabeth C. Speers P'16, athletic director John Monagan, 2014-2015 student body president Ella Ross '15 and Head of School Meera Viswanathan, a ceremonial ribbon was cut to signify the opening of the building. Students, parents, alumnae, trustees, and friends of the School were in attendance along with representatives of OMR Architects and C.E. Floyd, the project builder.

The 62,000 sq. ft. facility includes a double gymnasium with batting/golfing cage, two dance studios, social spaces, fitness room, eight-lane pool, four squash courts, health and wellness center, training room, and locker rooms for two visiting and two home teams. The project was made possible in part by an anonymous donor who pledged $5 million dollars in the fall of 2014 if 100% of the parents made a gift to the School's annual fund. The goal was met in 93 days. Ella Ross, a member of the Class of 2015 and the head of the student government at the time of the challenge, pledged to wear a purple cape until the goal was met which she faithfully did for the 93 days until all of the gifts were received.

On Friday, October 28, members of the Walker's community observed the closing of the school's Centennial Campaign with a celebratory dinner capped by dessert and a fireworks display viewed from the Centennial Lawn behind the school's Beaver Brook building.