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Proposed School Modernization

Saint Peter School is a vibrant community and responsible steward of a historical jewel on Capitol Hill, thriving since 1867 and providing an enriching faith-based education while some Catholic schools in the District have struggled and shuttered. Today, we have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to modernize our facilities for the first time in nearly 50 years to meet the needs of current and future students, faculty, and staff.

Saint Peter School after the last addition, late 1930s.

A Brief History of the Saint Peter School Building

  • 1866: Land for school donated to Saint Peter's Church by Thomas Bayne.

  • 1867: Saint Peter's School built.

  • 1868: Saint Peter School opens. All classes were held on the first floor and the vaulted second floor was used as an auditorium and parish social hall. 

  • 1935: Saint Peter School had 631 students in the original building, and the DC Fire Department gave notice that due to overcrowding the school would have to be closed in the coming year.

  • 1936: Parents build an addition, which currently houses the main entry way, multipurpose room and administrative offices, and the floors above.

  • 1977: The most recent renovation of our school building - 48 years ago!

The Need for Modernization

Saint Peter School's limited space is being used creatively, but changes are needed to meet the ongoing academic, spiritual, and physical needs of our students. Our proposal includes adding to the existing L-shaped footprint with a new addition facing 3rd Street and modernizing the existing historical building. Highlights include:

  • A new, accessible, welcoming entrance.
  • An elevator to ensure that we can accommodate students and their families, faculty, and staff of all physical abilities in all parts of the school building.
  • A large multi-purpose space/gym capable of accommodating the entire school community at one time, which will allow for:
    • Assemblies, performances, games, and fairs.
    • Indoor physical education and recess on inclement weather days.
    • Lunch outside of the classrooms.
  • Additional resource rooms for small group instruction, projects, and teacher workspaces.
  • Dedicated classrooms for art and music to support humanities programming.
  • New Pre-K and Kindergarten classrooms with a private child-size restroom will better serve our youngest students, while modernized restrooms for Grades 1-8 will meet their needs.
  • Replacing the HVAC system will improve ventilation throughout the historic structure and replace the old boiler.
  • Retaining outdoor play space on the roof of the addition.

Renderings

Click on an image to expand.

Location: 422 3rd Street SE (Ward 6)
SPS POC: Karen Clay, Principal
Project Manager: Michael Kovacs, AnchorPoint Services, LLC 
Design-Build Team: MTFA Architecture, Coakley & Williams Construction