LAKESHORE EAST — Basic amenities at the high-priced GEMS World Academy's Upper School include much more than a basketball court and cafeteria.
The latest renderings from the ritzy Lakeshore East private school reveal the 16-story building that will house grades 6 through 12 will feature sleek modern "breakout rooms," a multifloor library and athletic facility with a pool and basketball court, an auditorium and separate "black box" multimedia room as well as a "parent lounge" that's separate from the school's sweeping lobby.
No date has been announced for when construction will begin on the bKL Architecture-designed upper school, the second phase of construction for the two-building campus. The lower school, already in development, is set to open in the fall, with the middle and high school building's targeted opening in September 2015.
While the 2,000-student academy doesn't release enrollment numbers during its rolling admissions period, spokeswoman Emily Hampsten said the school "continues to experience great interest.
"Space is limited, and we encourage parents to contact us soon for an introductory conversation with our admissions team," she said.
Tuition at the international baccalaureate-certified school for the middle-school and high-school levels has not yet been posted on the school's website, but a year of elementary school instruction is priced between $31,000 and $37,000, with discounts available for families with multiple students enrolled. The school will offer need-based financial aid, all in the form of grants, Hampsten said.
