School breaks ground on $15 million center

JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers AMAZING BUILDING-Oaks Christian School freshman Glenn Fenderson, 15, left, and eighth-grader Paul Auten, 14, are in awe of renderings of the plans for a new activity center addition on display before a groundbreaking ceremony last Wednesday. The 29,000-square-foot facility, newly named the Bedrosian Pavilion for donors John and Judy Bedrosian, is scheduled to open in August 2007. The $15 million cost will be covered by the $16.5 milllion achieved in pledge support from a six-year fundraising effort. Nearly 100 key donors, parents, school and city of Westlake Village officials attended a groundbreaking ceremony May 31 for a new $15 million academic and activities center at Oaks Christian School in Westlake Village.

The center will be called Bedrosian Pavilion, named after major donors John and Judy Bedrosian of Los Angeles.

The new building will be a two-story, 29,000-square-foot structure with a 1,000-seat auditorium able to transform into an 400-seat theatre and a gymnasium. It will also house performing arts and media classrooms, practice studios, and a teacher core area. The expected completion date is August 2007.

NDT Architects designed the building and Matt Construction is the contractor. Matt also is handling construction of the Four Seasons Wellness Center Hotel and Spa in Westlake Village.

Oaks Christian School cofounder, Dallas Van Breda-Price, told the audience the building was part of the original plan for the school, but wasn't financially feasible.

"It has been overwhelming and very exciting to see the progress in this school, as well as the acceptance in our community," Van Breda-Price said. "The next step is to augment our arts and athletics capabilities with this new facility."

City of Westlake Village Mayor Sue McSweeney and City Manager Ray Taylor were also present at the ceremony.

"We have tried our best to develop a stellar fine arts department, and I think we have," said Jeff Woodcock, the school's headmaster. "We expect an enrollment of 960 students next year and we have reached capacity in our current facilities."

Oaks Christian School currently leases its athletic fields for community use through the city of Westlake Village. School officials said the new Bedrosian Pavilion could be available to the community on a case-by-case basis, with preference given to nonprofit, youth-oriented programs.