Andrean to remain and renovate
After years of study, expansion of current campus planned
The chatter around a potential move to the south by Andrean High School ended Monday with the school’s announcement it plans to stay put at 5959 Broadway in Merrillville and launch an expansion and renovation project.
Diocese of Gary Bishop Robert McClory and school Superintendent Colleen Brewer have endorsed a planning committee’s recommendation known as the “Andrean Initiative.”
Principal Jaycob Knazur shared the news with students and parents Monday.
The school had been studying a relocation to Crown Point on property at U.S. 231 and Interstate 65 near Franciscan Health Crown Point’s new $200 million hospital that opened in January.
“There were many factors studied that led to this decision these past eight years, we have to be realistic to say cost is always a factor in these types of projects,” Knazur said. “Regardless of that, we are excited about what is ahead of us and eagerly look forward to next steps.”
In a letter to Andrean families and supporters, Knazur said after several years of silent campaigning and measuring benchmarks, a committee recommended the school invest in its current campus.
He said Monday’s news received a positive welcome from students, families and officials in Merrillville.
“The municipality is delighted to learn of Andrean High School’s decision to remain at 5959 Broadway in Merrillville,” Town Council President Rick Bella said.
“With a tenure spanning back to 1959, the institution holds a significant place in our community, and we eagerly anticipate collaborating with Andrean to facilitate their
renovation and expansion endeavors,” he said.
After discussions, Bella said the town has offered its municipal support and suggestions to school officials.
“With this encouraging development, we are poised to advance towards a structured framework aimed at bolstering their initiatives,” Bella said.
Town Council member Shawn Pettit, whose daughter is a 2022 Andrean graduate, said the town will work with the school to establish secondary access for vehicle traffic. Currently, Broadway is the lone access road.
The town is also expected to work with the Diocese of Gary as it plans development on 200 acres it owns at 93rd and Broadway where its diocesan headquarters are located. Pettit said he anticipates a mixed-use project.
Knazur said the key drivers in the decision focused on an assessment of the physical campus and needs for the future.
The committee studied perspectives, trends, trade-offs, programming, donor capacity and needs in the future for the school to live out its mission.
“The Andrean Initiative reflects a big dream,” Knazur said in the letter.
“With this more defined direction, there is excitement to move forward at our current campus to ensure students’ continued success but in a campus setting they have long deserved.”
Knazur reaffirmed the school’s commitment to work with the town of Merrillville, local universities, philanthropic organizations and its devoted alumni base.
Officials didn’t put a price tag on the project Monday. Brewer said the school’s next step is to hire a design firm to plot out its future improvements in a phased-in approach.
“We have completed an updated building audit, and we are almost finished with a building space assessment identifying the types of space requirements we hope to include in this plan,” she said.
Knazur said updates are being studied.
“There are several areas of focus that warrant attention including renovation and modernization of existing parts of our campus, adding new facets more relevant to 21st century learning and formation, and utilizing parts of our campus that have not been developed to date,” he said.
Monday’s news ends years of speculation about a possible move to Crown Point.
In 2018, former Bishop Donald Hying said Andrean would remain in Merrillville as a study recommended.
In 2019, Andrean officials said the cost to upgrade the campus would exceed $30 million.
When Franciscan Health Crown Point announced plans for its new hospital in 2019, speculation ramped up that Andrean would also find a new home at the site.
School officials said that Franciscan Alliance verbally committed to setting aside a 60-acre parcel for a possible new home for Andrean.
But plans were put on hold when Hying departed and officials said plans could not go forward until a new bishop was appointed.
Andrean celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2019.