During 1998, a $3 million expansion and renovation of Servite facilities was completed that had two major components.
First, the main school building was completely remodeled and retrofitted for earthquake safety. The long classroom building was ‘bisected’ by shearing walls in two locations. The shearing walls went several feet below the foundation of the building. The effect of this shearing wall was to guarantee that, in the event of an earthquake, the building would break into three parts, rather than crumble. Renovations of the main building included drop ceilings, new lighting, air conditioning in all classrooms and offices, and infrastructure for computer and technology systems.
In April 1997, there was a groundbreaking for construction of a Library/Science Building that was completed in Spring of 1998. It included two science labs, four science lecture rooms, an elevator access, library, student store and reading room. The late Bishop Michael Driscoll, then Auxiliary Bishop of Orange, officiated at the dedication, which was attended by donors and televised to students in classrooms.
Former Librarian Jacqui Engelman recalls the move-in process. “I remember moving books from the second floor to the library using a cherry-picker driven by Fr. Horan,” she said. “Students then picked up the boxes and transported them into the new library.”
The renovation cost was $1.8 million and the new construction was about $1.2 million. The $3 million needed for the total project was financed from the Building on Tradition Capital Campaign pledges, school reserves, and a 7-year loan from Allied Irish Bank. The school Advisory Board worked with Fr. Horan on the project and was led by parents Rob Hoertz ’72 and Frank Chessman.
