Owner: Windsor Essex Catholic District School Board
Location: LaSalle, Ontario
Size: 180,000 sf + Site
Situated in LaSalle, Ontario, St. Thomas of Villanova Separate High School has served as a model institution for local schools for the last 20 years. At the time of opening, St. Thomas of Villanova was called the high school for the 21st century. Designed for 1,200 students, the building provides both academic and athletic facilities with an emphasis on the performing arts.
A “figure-eight” corridor configuration was created to link all teaching areas, the auditorium, the cafeteria and the resource centre to the main entrance and two-storey atrium. One of the highlights of the school is the 650 seat tiered auditorium with a full stage complete with an orchestra pit. Directly behind the stage is a theatrical arts complex complete with dressing rooms, a scenery construction area, projection rooms and access to music and art rooms. Other program elements include a technical wing, triple gymnasium with six change rooms, an exercise room, and a dance floor. The site is further outfitted with generous athletic fields and grand stand areas. This expansive site also holds one of the finest examples of athletics fields in the Greater-Essex County region. The sports facilities integrates a baseball diamond, several basketball courts, a soccer/football field, a premier 400m – 6 lane track, and stand alone concession building, equipped with washrooms, change rooms, and showers. The school also boasts a diverse set of programs.