Construction work at the new Sacred Heart Catholic School (former Gregory A. Hogan site) in Sarnia has reached the halfway mark as the facility is on track to open this fall.
Wellington Builders began working on-site at 1825 Hogan Dr. in June 2024 after asbestos abatement was completed.
St. Clair Catholic District School Board Manager of Facility Services Tony Montanino said the overall project is expected to cost approximately $6.5 million.
The ongoing work includes interior renovations such as new flooring and paint throughout the school, library and atrium improvements, washroom upgrades, and an expanded gymnasium.
Montanino said the new 3,634 square-foot gym will include a 24-foot high ceiling, more natural lighting, a sound system, athletic flooring, and new athletic equipment.
"This is an opportunity for the board to repurpose the space, upgrade it, renovate it, and clean it up so when the school community from Sacred Heart (on Lecaron Avenue) moves to 1825 Hogan Dr., it is for all intents and purposes going to be a new building for them," he said. "We're very happy with the progress."
Montanino said, fortunately, the project has been moving along well with no major challenges.
"Our structural steel and masonry block walls are now complete and the contractor's working on the roofing, the window framing and looking to place glass in early February, with the goal of being weather-tight by the end of February," Montanino said. "Our mechanical equipment is to arrive in late March or early April and we'll have it operational by the end of April. So we're quite excited and it's nice, we can kind of see the finished building coming together."
School staff will be able to enter the facility in mid-June to become familiar with the new space.
"Once the school year is done, we will then move the furniture that's over on Lecaron Avenue to Hogan Drive and then set up," Montanino said. "So we're going to use the summer months to set up the furniture and set up all of the spaces."
The school's opening date is set for September 2.
The school board celebrated the opening of the new Gregory A. Hogan school, located on Rapids Parkway, last year.
Several other major capital projects were completed last year as well across Lambton-Kent, amounting to over $11 million.
“In a year marked by the opening of two new schools, our capital projects team has taken on an
impressive number of upgrades, ensuring that all our students have access to the best possible
learning spaces,” said Director of Education Scott Johnson in a statement. “The team’s hard work and careful use of Ministry funding underscores our commitment to providing modern, well-equipped facilities that enhance student success.”
For 2023-2024, over $4 million went toward interior renovations at Sacred Heart Port Lambton, $1.4 million was used on partial roof replacement at Holy Trinity, about $686,000 was used for upgrades and renovations at St. Pat's, and $387,061 was used for entrance accessibility upgrades at St. Joseph Corunna