St. Mary’s Unveils Innovative Campus Spaces to Inspire Learning and Community
By: Heather Wilkins
Photography Credit: Nick Davies
St. Mary’s School is proud to announce the opening of several transformative new spaces on campus, designed to foster creativity, collaboration and connection for students, families and faculty alike. Central to these exciting additions is The Sillers Center, a two-story, 28,400-square-foot facility honoring the school’s visionary founder, Father Ernest D. Sillers.
“The Sillers Center represents the heart of our campus and our mission,” said Doug Patterson, Head of School. “Every space—from our early education classrooms to the Design Center—was created to inspire curiosity, hands-on learning, and the joy of discovery for every St. Mary’s student.”
The Sillers Center: A Hub for Learning and Innovation
On the first floor, the Thompson Family Early Education Center welcomes our youngest learners with bright, flexible classrooms and imaginative play areas that seamlessly connect indoor and outdoor environments. The adjacent Liu Family Playground provides purposeful outdoor spaces that support physical development, social-emotional growth and creative exploration.
Visitors are greeted by the Vlok Family Lobby, home to the Design The Future donor wall, and can enjoy a morning coffee in the Welcome Café, a space designed for adult connection and community.
The Design Center: A Hub for Creativity and Innovation
Located on the second floor of The Sillers Center, the Design Center is a nearly 16,000-square-foot hub where imagination meets hands-on learning. The space combines administrative offices, collaborative studios and specialized labs with an expansive outdoor terrace, offering students the freedom to explore ideas both indoors and in the open air.
Within the Design Center, students engage with a variety of creative and technical tools, from hand and power tools to digital fabrication machines, 3D printers and subtractive manufacturing equipment. This diverse toolkit allows learners to move seamlessly from concept to prototype, building both skill and confidence.
Key spaces include:
Arman Family Empathy Lab – A flexible, distraction-free environment for meaningful conversations, interviews and problem discovery.
Tavakoli Kadar Idea Lab – A creative space for brainstorming, sketching and visualizing ideas, turning possibilities into actionable plans.
Tang Family Falcon Workshop – A hands-on workshop for low- to mid-fidelity prototypes and models using everyday tools and materials.
Keif Family Tool Shed – A maker space equipped for larger-scale construction with durable materials such as wood.
The Garage – A precision fabrication area for high-fidelity prototypes and detailed projects.
Lisa Argyros and Family Studio – A finishing studio for applying surface treatments, paint and polish to completed projects.
Zhang Family Gallery – A presentation and exhibition space where student work is showcased, celebrated and shared with the broader community.
Together, these spaces form an ecosystem of innovation, empowering students to dream boldly, design creatively and bring their ideas to life in meaningful, tangible ways.
“The Design Center is more than a space—it’s a learning ecosystem where students imagine boldly, create collaboratively and see their ideas come to life,” Patterson added.
Floriani Family Park and Community Spaces
From the creative energy of the Design Center, students and families can step outdoors into the expansive Floriani Family Park, a 40,000-square-foot landscaped environment designed for recreation, relaxation and community connection. The park features lush greenery, shade trees and drought-tolerant plantings, creating a welcoming environment year-round. Thoughtfully designed zones encourage play, conversation and reflection, while collaborative seating areas provide spaces for students, families and faculty to gather and engage in shared activities. Modern lighting, comfortable benches and a state-of-the-art speaker system make the park ideal for both daily enjoyment and larger community events.
At the heart of The Sillers Center, the Grand Staircase serves as both a striking architectural centerpiece and a daily reminder of St. Mary’s values, etched with the International Baccalaureate learner profiles.
These spaces collectively embody St. Mary’s dedication to cultivating an intellectually rich and engaging campus environment, one that advances student learning, fosters meaningful community engagement and promotes enduring connections.
