Published Tuesday, May 06, 2008 3:39 PM
Updated Tuesday, May 06, 2008 3:39 PM
Pictured are Chip Mann, Pinewood Preparatory School Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors; Dr. Glyn Cowlishaw, Pinewood Preparatory School Headmaster; Bob Hammond of Hammond Construction; Berlin G. Myers, Mayor of Summerville; and Alexandra Kassing, representing the Kassing family, a major donor to the project.
Pinewood breaks ground for new buildings
Five shovels stood poised on the ground of Pinewood Preparatory School, signaling the beginning of an undertaking that has been a dream for many at the school.
With the lifting of those shovels at the official groundbreaking on April 16, construction of the new Upper School building for grades 6-12 was underway. Completion of the project is scheduled for 2009.
The new upper school building will house a 103-seat college style auditorium classroom, nine classrooms with state of the art technology and a new college guidance office. Another site off Orangeburg Road will be the location for the Pinewood Field House.
"These new facilities are critical for the development of Pinewood," said Pinewood Headmaster Glyn Cowlishaw. This new classroom building and field house will give further impetus to the School’s continuing ascent in quality and influence. We're thrilled."
The lead gift on this project was the Kassing family’s gift of $150,000 that brought the idea of a new Upper School for Pinewood Preparatory School from concept to reality. The gift brought in several others totaling more than $740,000.
“This project would not be possible without so many people who believe in this school,” said Erin Bloxham, Pinewood’s Director of Development. Hammond Construction, Sanders Brother’s Construction, Brian Murphree and Associates, and Steven Russell and Associates donated services and goods.
“Our families became an integral part of this exciting project. The Kassing family joined Pinewood in 2003 and since then they have become active members of the Pinewood community. With the thought that soon all their children will be advancing into the Upper School, the family very generously opened their hearts and gave to date the largest known gift in Pinewood history.”
Don Kassing is with J.W. Aluminum, Alexandra is a proud mom and is part of the Art Central Co-op and their three (and next year four) children are very involved Pinewood Panthers.
Two other lead gifts include Mr. and Mrs. Jim Chickarello who will be naming the main lobby area. A new family of two years, the Chickarellos have two sons at Pinewood in grades seven and nine. In addition, Mr. and Mrs. Steve Smith will be naming the lecture hall. The Smiths are long time supporters of the school and currently have two sons enrolled in grades nine and eleven.
In the past ten years, Pinewood has added a new High School wing, computer laboratories, an alumni courtyard, the Smith Technology Center, science labs, a K4 – first grade building, Freedom Hall, a grade 2-5 building, Eidson Gym, and a Lower School library. Pinewood stands poised with these new campus developments to become an even stronger and more dynamic educational facility in the Lowcountry.