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Bishop O’Dowdhigh school

Bishop O’Dowdhigh school

Campus Development

For our neighbors »

At Bishop O’Dowd High School, we believe that every student is unique and has the potential to create positive change within themselves, in their communities and in the world. With every generation, we nurture students’ gifts so they may go on to help build a more just, joyful, sustainable world.

In March 2021, we began building the O’Dowd Center on campus, a place that will support the heart of the O’Dowd experience beyond the classroom, serving our entire community. Designed to host a wide range of activities, the Center will give our community a new place to learn, to perform, to compete and to worship.

We will keep this page and our Cor Unum campaign website updated with construction progress on this exciting, transformative project. Bookmark this page, bishopodowd.org/campusupdate, and return for updates.

Learn More

Visit the Cor Unum Campaign website for a virtual tour of the O’Dowd Center and more.

Read President J.D. Child’s reflections on the meaning, purpose, and impact of O’Dowd’s co-curricular programs and the important ways they enhance student formation, learning, growth, and leadership.
– Developing the Whole Student in a Community of Care »
– Athletics: Embracing the Gift of Competition »

Construction Map »

O’Dowd Center Construction Live Webcam!

Frequently Asked Questions

What will this new building bring to the O’Dowd community?

The O’Dowd Center will support the heart of the O’Dowd co-curricular experience – serving our entire community. Designed to host a wide range of activities, the O’Dowd Center will provide our students a place to learn, perform, compete, and worship. The Center’s lobby and the adjoining outdoor plaza/viewing deck will create a delightful space to support a variety of events. The interior space will include a new gymnasium, strength and conditioning facilities, classrooms for music and drama, and two additional new classrooms. Creating a place where the entire student body will come together as one enhances community engagement and promotes O’Dowd’s core values.

Where will the O’Dowd Center be located on campus?

The new O’Dowd Center will be located behind the existing large gym and will be physically connected to the Quad by a hallway through the existing gym building. The aging portable that housed drama and music rehearsal will be removed and these programs will move into the new building.

What programmatic benefits will the O’Dowd Center provide?

This state-of-the-art Center is a multi-purpose facility designed to serve our entire community of students, parents, faculty, staff and alumni.

  • A Place for All to Gather & Foster Student Growth – The O’Dowd Center will provide a space large enough for the entire school to come together as one, addressing a critical need. The entire school community of faculty, staff, and students will gather in the new gymnasium for Mass and other faith-based activities, assemblies to celebrate the diverse range of student cultures, as well as student rallies and time- honored school traditions and events. Deepening a sense of belonging is at the heart of who we are as a Catholic school.
  • Two New Classrooms  A multi-purpose classroom with advanced audio-visual presentation capabilities will serve as a flexible space for instruction, presentations, club meetings and events for students, faculty, parents and alumni. An additional much-needed general classroom will enhance learning opportunities.
  • Music Studio  A professionally designed music studio will accommodate the program’s instructional, practice, recording and equipment requirements. Advanced music students and small ensemble groups will have dedicated practice rooms to develop their talent and enrich their performance.
  • Drama Studio  The new drama studio will provide the flexibility to adapt for rehearsals, classroom instruction, and space for smaller and more intimate performances. It will complement the existing 325-seat theater and position O’Dowd’s performing arts program to attain even greater heights.
  • Gymnasium  Athletics is the largest co-curricular program on campus with over 70% of students participating. The new O’Dowd Center will feature a full-size competition court that will triple our current seating capacity, enabling O’Dowd to host many more post-season competitions as well as support the school’s robust athletic practice, training and competition needs.
  • Athletic Performance Lab  Critical to O’Dowd’s comprehensive athletics performance program, our athletic trainers and coaches will have a new modern space with improved equipment and sports medicine resources to optimize care for our students at every stage of fitness. With more than 3,000 student visits per year, O’Dowd’s strength and conditioning staff serve and support elite caliber athletes, young developing athletes and students aspiring to a more active lifestyle.

Why is this new project a priority?

Over the last 15 years, O’Dowd has invested $30 million to enhance its learning spaces — and today, our entire community benefits daily from that investment. Completed projects include 45 renovated classrooms, including two state-of-the-art chemistry labs; updated technology infrastructure; a modernized library with expanded space, upgraded technology and flexible seating; as well as the Center for Environmental Studies (CES) and the adjoining Living Lab.

With such significant investments in the academic spaces on campus, O’Dowd is now turning to co-curricular enhancements for athletics, performing arts, all-school gatherings and more. Building the Center is critical to meeting students’ needs and ensuring O’Dowd’s excellence for generations to come.

Will constructing the O’Dowd Center increase the enrollment of the school?

No. The Center will enhance the student experience for the current enrollment. The school has no plans to increase student capacity.

How will the O’Dowd Center be funded?

The O’Dowd Center has been funded through a capital campaign with a goal of $40 million, with a generous $20 million matching grant from the Wayne and Gladys Valley Foundation. All members of the O’Dowd community have been invited to contribute to this unparalleled project.

I’ve heard there is a matching grant from a foundation?

Yes! The Wayne and Gladys Valley Foundation provided a $20 million matching grant to help realize this vision. This transformative gift has doubled the impact of every contribution. This match has spurred generous gifts of all sizes and multi-year pledges – many thanks to our supportive community of generous parents, alumni, past parents, grandparents, faculty and staff, friends, and foundations.

Who is leading this effort?

Representatives from the President’s Office are overseeing the project and coordinating with the Board of Regents and the Oakland Diocese to ensure that decisions are sound and responsible. The school has also assembled a team of seasoned volunteers who are providing expertise and contributing to the planning, construction and fundraising efforts.

When will construction begin and end?

We will break ground on the project at the end of March 2021 and complete the project by the end of Summer 2022.

How will the construction of the O’Dowd Center impact school operations?

We’re committed to maintaining a quality school experience in the midst of this construction project. The general contractor for the project, Devcon, is deeply experienced in high school projects. Devcon is working with O’Dowd administrators on minimizing construction impact. A task force is in place to anticipate and plan for all student needs during construction. Every decision will be made through the lens of the student experience.

Most of the O’Dowd campus will not be affected. The baseball/softball field will be repurposed during construction, and those sports activities will be moved off-site from March 2021 – August 2022. We will identify both on- and off-campus locations for other programs that use the upper field. The music and drama classrooms will have a new temporary home on campus during this time.

Every effort will be taken to minimize inconvenience and we will schedule the most disruptive work during school vacations. Additional details will be shared as they become available.

How will parking be affected?

There will be a minimal loss of campus parking spaces. During construction, parking situated behind the gym will be moved to the upper field. Once construction is complete, parking will be relocated across campus.

Where will music and drama programs be held during the ’21-’22 school year?

O’Dowd is committed to excellence in the arts. During construction an alternative space will be provided for music and drama instruction. Further details will be communicated as they become available.

How will O’Dowd field sports be affected?

The programs that use the upper field will be temporarily moved to alternate locations, both on and off campus, during construction. O’Dowd’s commitment to these programs will remain strong. Further details will be communicated as they become available.

Is the school still pursuing acquisition plans for the adjacent property?

Yes. The school has signed an agreement to purchase the 20-acre reservoir from East Bay Municipal Utilities District (EBMUD). EBMUD will continue to own the land until the site is fully decommissioned – a process estimated for completion in 2023. EBMUD will lead a separate planning process for decommissioning the reservoir which will include the opportunity for public input. Questions regarding the decommissioning project should be directed to Matt Elawady of EBMUD at (510) 287- 1248.

Future development of the reservoir site is years away and will involve extensive outreach and planning with our community, our neighbors, and the City of Oakland.

How can neighbors receive information or contact the school regarding questions or feedback during the process of building the O’Dowd Center?

O’Dowd strives to have a strong working relationship with our surrounding neighbors and is committed to maintaining the highest levels of transparency. We pledge to provide clear and ongoing communication with our neighbors to ensure up-to-date information and address any concerns that may arise. Visit O’Dowd’s Campus Development webpage to stay informed.

Please use our Contact Form or email us at [email protected] with any questions or concerns.

    Location & Contact Information

    9500 Stearns Ave
    Oakland, CA 94605
    Phone: (510) 577-9100
    Fax: (510) 638-3259
    Attendance: email »

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