Second Century Campaign

The Vision Becomes a Reality

In August 2019—seven years after Loyola Academy President Rev. Patrick E. McGrath, SJ, unveiled his ambitious strategic plan to transform our school into a vibrant faith and education center for the 21st century—the Loyola community turned out in force to celebrate the completion of phase one of our Campus Master Plan and the grand opening of our Piazza and John D. Norcross '54 Aquatic Center.

The Pool

As students are called to be physically fit, aquatics is a large part of life at Loyola. We are looking to replace the swimming pool that has served thousands of Ramblers for more than half a century.
For more than half a century, thousands of Ramblers have participated in Loyola's award-winning swimming, diving and water polo programs. Now we are building on this tradition through The Pool Initiative, which will give Ramblers of all athletic abilities the facilities they need to experience aquatic sports and enjoy aquatic fitness. This initiative will generate support for the development of the John D. Norcross ’54 Aquatic Center that will enhance the aquatic experience of every Rambler — from the non-swimmer in need of basic water safety and swimming instruction to the recreational swimmer to the varsity swim team member — as well as community members and future Ramblers participating in Loyola Academy youth summer camp activities.
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  • What will the pool include?

    Architects are putting the finishing touches on plans for an eight-lane, IHSA-approved, competition-size pool that will enhance the aquatic experience of every Rambler—from the nonswimmer in need of basic water safety and swimming instruction to the varsity swimmer.
    Features of the aquatic center will include:
    • A 8-lane "Stretch-25" multiuse pool
    • Two one-meter springboards
    • A movable bulkhead
    • A suite of locker rooms with separate team and physical education locker areas
    • A coaches' office
    • A wet classroom
    • A 294-seat spectator gallery with retractable bleachers
    • Wide deck areas
    • New mechanical systems and lighting
    • Colorado Time System scoreboard technology
    All of this in a bright and airy two-story natatorium.

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  • The Vision of a New Pool

    To help us on our mission to be a vibrant faith and education center for our 21st-century world, the new pool will offer the following benefits:
    • Will enable Loyola to replace its aging and inadequate pool, which has served the school community for more than half a century
    • Will give Ramblers of all athletic abilities the facilities they need to experience aquatic sports and enjoy aquatic fitness
    • Will enhance our swimming and diving and water polo programs—which have produced national champions, All-Americans and Olympic gold medalists—by giving a new generation of Rambler athletes the state-of-the-art facilities needed
    • Will enable Loyola to host local, regional, sectional and national swimming, diving and water polo competitions

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  • The Piazza

    The phrase "Meet me at the piazza" will one day be a familiar one at Loyola Academy, when members of our school community begin to use this gathering space between the pool and the West Gym. for everything from informal gatherings to art exhibits, classes, concerts and other events.
    Inspired by the St. Ignatius Piazza in front of the Church of St. Ignatius in Rome—a place where ideas, the arts and the Church's faith traditions have all flourished in community since 1728—our new piazza will set the stage for a renaissance in arts programming that will culminate in the Phase Two design and construction of our new theater for the performing arts.

Loyola Academy

1100 Laramie Avenue, Wilmette, Illinois 60091-1089  |  847-256-1100
Loyola Academy admits students of any race, color and national origin or ethnic origin.
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