Dowling Catholic High School broke ground Tuesday on the school’s expansion in what is not only the largest capital campaign in its history but also of the Diocese of Des Moines.
Dowling and its supporters had raised more than $45.3 million coming into May 19’s groundbreaking ceremony for the planned $76 million expansion of the high school at 1400 Buffalo Road in West Des Moines. The expansion will include a new student union, a secure main entrance, expanded parking, a new entrance from 17th Street, a renovated cafeteria and a new arena main gym for sports and events.
But the fundraising total grew by millions of dollars before the ceremony’s end.
Dan Ryan, Dowling’s president, announced a $5 million donation from the Dowling College Foundation, and a further $3 million match from anonymous donors — meaning the next $3 million donated will result in $6 million in contributions.
Ryan said there have been more than 700 donors since Dowling launched the fundraising for the school’s expansion last fall.
“Critical needs and long overdue” improvements will be met for the next 50 years by the project, he said.
Bishop William Joensen, who blessed the groundbreaking, said the campaign is the largest in the diocese’s history.
Dowling is the Des Moines metro’s largest private high school, with more than 1,400 students.
Ryan said in last fall’s launch for the campaign Dowling anticipates 12% to 15% enrollment growth in the next four years, which would bring the student body to 1,600 or more students.
The school has already demolished four homes on 17th Street it owned since 2019 to make way for the expansion project.
The next phase will begin June 1 and will include demolition of the current west parking area, installation of underground utilities, new parking and driveways, and construction of the new auxiliary gym, storm shelter, loading dock and arena main gym, according to a news release.
“Everything will be functional in 28 months,” Dowling spokesperson Tara Nelson said about the timeframe for completing the project.
Phillip Sitter covers the suburbs for the Des Moines Register. Phillip can be reached via email at PSitter@usatodayco.com. Find out more about him online in the Register’s staff directory.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Dowling Catholic High School breaks ground on $76M expansion
Reporting by Phillip Sitter, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
