Local

Paul VI relocation plan approved

Zoey Maraist | Catholic Herald Staff Writer

A picture of the proposed site plan of Paul VI Catholic High School in South Riding shows an academic building, athletic fields, a gym complex and natural wetlands. Courtesy Photo

CROP_Paul-IV—SPEX-2016-0006—09-14-2016-(2)-1.jpg

The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors approved a plan for the
new Paul VI Catholic High School after the diocese found ways to ease the
concerns about increased traffic around the South Riding site.

 

The diocese will provide $1.5 million to the county for traffic
improvements along Braddock Road. Additionally, the diocese added language to
the transportation management plan that allows the county to request a revised proposal
for traffic easement if the need arises.

 

During the Nov. 1 meeting, Supervisor Matt Letourneau from the
Dulles district expressed his excitement for the school’s move. Not only will
Paul VI’s relocation save the county money by moving students out of the public
school system, “it’s a benefit to the county to provide (school) choice to our
citizens,” said Letourneau, a parishioner of Corpus Christi Church in South
Riding.

 

“Across the board, Paul VI has an outstanding reputation,” he
said.

 

Meeting the new Paul VI

 

“Paul VI is like a family,” said Head of School Ginny Colwell.
“When you outgrow your home, you get a new home.” Though many are sad to leave
the longtime Fairfax City location, Colwell sees the move for all its
possibilities.

 

“We (currently) have 16 acres, and are going to have 65 acres,”
she said. “We can have a facility that matches the caliber of the students we
want to continue to attract.”

 

The current building was purchased by the diocese from George
Mason University in 1983. It previously served as the old Fairfax High School.
Now, said Colwell, “we’re getting a building that’s actually ours.”

 

Colwell describes the new Paul VI as a “21st-century learning
environment” with hands-on science labs, an open floor plan, an auditorium that
seats 700 and a few movable walls to allow classrooms to combine if needed.

 

At the heart of the school is a chapel built to hold 180 students.
Unlike the makeshift chapel in the current building, “this is going to be a
real chapel, with a chapel feel to it,” she said.

 

Across from the main building, a covered, open-air walkway will lead
to the gym complex. Beyond that will be the football field, baseball field and
tennis courts.

 

“We really have a campus plan here,” said Bob Nashed, diocesan
planning manager, of the spread-out site plan. “It’s a little bit of a higher
education approach to a high school … generated in response to our respect for the
(property’s) wetlands.”

 

Currently, Paul VI’s student population hovers around 1,000
students. In the first phase of construction, the new building will have space
for 1,200 students, and later, a full capacity of 2,000. The only room large
enough to fit the entire student body will be the gym.

 

Construction on the $70 million project is set to begin in 2017.
At the earliest, the class of 2020 will be the first to graduate from the new
facility.

 

Colwell said memorabilia from the Fairfax building will be given
a place of prominence in the South Riding one. We’re not going to forget our
history, she said. 

 

Related Articles