Wilson Completes Chaminade Arts Center

S. M. Wilson & Co. has completed construction of a new $17.5 million performing and fine arts center at Chaminade College Preparatory School in St. Louis. The 80,000 square foot Skip Viragh Center for the Arts celebrated its Grand Opening on September 25 with a public performance by the St. Louis Symphony. S. M. Wilson sponsored this event.

The Skip Viragh Center for the Arts features two levels of facilities designed to support a wide variety of arts educational programs. The ground floor houses a 1,000- seat auditorium with orchestra pit, a 150-seat block box theater, a scene shop, costume shop and dressing rooms. Also on the ground floor are studios for ceramics and drawing. The auditorium features an audio-visual system utilizing the latest educational technology available today.

The second floor features jazz and band rehearsal rooms, several individual music practice rooms, a broadcast studio, a graphics design/music theory studio, a photography darkroom and classrooms.

S. M. Wilson provided general contracting services for the project. Construction began in April 2010. Hastings & Chivetta was the architect, and CCS Group was the owner's representative.

The project was funded through a $28 million gift from the Viragh family to the school.

"This is a spectacular new facility for the faculty, students, parents and alumni of Chaminade as well as the entire community," said Scott Wilson, President of S. M. Wilson. "We are sponsoring the grand opening event to celebrate this major accomplishment with them."

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