Delbarton Headmaster Fr. Michael Tidd, O.S.B recently shared exciting news with Delbarton families about an upcoming STEM-ccentric construction project at the school: a comprehensive interior renovation of the school's 24,000 square foot Science Pavilion.

In an email to parents on January 7, Fr. Michael wrote, “I am excited to inform you that beginning in mid-March 2025, the Rev. Stephen W. Findlay. O.S.B. Science Pavilion will undergo a $7 million two-phase interior renovation that will dramatically renew our STEM facilities.” The project comes as welcome news to Science Department Chairperson Brian Theroux, who, with other faculty members, was deeply involved in its design and says, "This transformative renovation will more than double the lab space available for our students and includes dedicated, state-of-the-art classrooms for physics, chemistry, and biology, providing an exceptional environment for hands-on experimentation and dynamic learning in the sciences."

Some history: In 1942, the young and relatively inexperienced Fr. Stephen Findlay, O.S.B. was appointed at Delbarton's second headmaster and, under his inspired and dedicated leadership, Delbarton grew rapidly and soon earned a place among the country's most distinguished Catholic independent schools. Fr. Stephen retired from the headmaster role in 1967 after twenty-five impactful years, then served as the school's first Director of Development. In 1995, the new Science Pavilion was dedicated in his honor and the handsome building still stands as a testament to Fr. Stephen's influence on the ethos of the school.

Somewhere, we suspect, he is smiling as we embark on the next iteration of the Rev. Stephen W. Findlay. O.S.B. Science Pavilion.

Phase 1 of the project takes place from mid-March to mid-August 2025 with the replacement of the building’s entire HVAC system and conversion of the ground floor Gregory Room, currently a large meeting space, to two general-purpose classrooms. Phase 2 takes shape from mid-March to mid-August 2026 when existing classrooms and laboratories on the Science Pavilion’s first and second floors will be converted into hybrid instructional spaces with classrooms in the front and modern laboratories in the rear. Theroux says, "The enhanced facilities will also support students conducting independent research as part of our prestigious Research in Science program. Additionally, the Robotics and Engineering Club will finally have a dedicated cutting-edge workspace, realizing a long-time dream of former, revered Delbarton Physics teacher Mr. Greg Devine."

Science Department faculty members and students will benefit from this renovation project in tangible ways. Teachers will no longer share laboratory spaces with each other, an improvement that encourages and facilitates more frequent and intensive use of Delbarton laboratories for hands-on experimentation. 

Independent student research is also highly encouraged at Delbarton -- as our very active Research in Science Club attests -- so these improvements will benefit the school's extracurricular programs as well.  During Phase 2, a second-floor dedicated room for our award-winning robotics and engineering programs will be added...

...and a new, innovative physics classroom/laboratory will be added adjacent to the existing one on the first floor.

Upon project completion in mid-August 2026, each science course (including Middle School Integrated Science, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics) will have two new dedicated classrooms/laboratories equipped with the most modern equipment. Theroux says, "This project represents Delbarton's ongoing commitment to providing students with the resources they need to excel academically and pursue their passions. The teachers in the science department look forward to this remarkable addition and the opportunities it will create for our current and future generations of students."

In his email to parents, Fr. Michael praised “the generosity of many benefactors (current families, past families, and alumni)” for supporting and enabling this exciting renovation project that reflects Delbarton’s commitment to STEM-oriented academic and extracurricular programs.