On November 19, 2024, MKA held a steel signing ceremony for its Inquiry and Innovation Center among faculty, staff, Administrative Council members, Trustees, donors, students, and parents. The Center, currently under construction on the Upper School campus, will help to extend the learning spaces that are available, housing classrooms, laboratories, a dedicated robotics area, and student workspaces. 

The vision for this space originated from a basement renovation proposal in 2017. Since then, the project, led by the leadership and vision of Head of School Nigel Furlonge, has taken shape, embodying a commitment to innovation and promising to redefine the Upper School Campus as a hub for collaboration and creativity for years to come. Head of Upper School Dr. Flocco addressed the community on the day, reflecting on the project’s journey and the seven years of careful and deliberate planning driven by strategic programming. He shared his gratitude for school leadership, the architects and contractors, as well as internal design and development committees seeing the importance of the project and contributing to the progress thus far.

The new state-of-the-art facility aligns with the school’s STEM+ vision of learning and positions MKA on a forward-thinking path where the entire community can work together across disciplines upholding its values of both research and creativity.

“We are doing much more than building more space,” said Furlonge. “We build this extension to echo the strength of our purpose–to celebrate teaching and learning excellence and to remain on our transformative edge. As we sign this beam today, we do so with gratitude for each and every person in this community who has supported this initiative.”

As MKA continues to celebrate its 50th anniversary this year, moments like the steel signing ceremony signal the school’s intent to build a firm foundation and affirm its vision for a bright future. Projected to be complete in the fall of 2025, the new Inquiry and Innovation Center will undoubtedly be an investment in MKA’s faculty and its students.

Through the Innovation Fund, the school will not only be able to complete this space but also enhance learning environments across its Middle and Primary Schools, invest in professional development for faculty, and launch new programming that will inspire curiosity and creativity in every student. Big ideas sometimes need extra resources to become reality, and the Innovation Fund will ensure that MKA students have everything they need to fully develop their STEM mindsets to the fullest. 

If you would like to support this project, or for more information, contact the Director of Development Laela Perkins. You can view more photos from the event by visiting www.mka.org/photogalleries.