LINCOLN PARK — A small private high school now has a fully dedicated building in Lincoln Park, which means it can accommodate more than double the amount of students.
GCE Lab School took over the 10,000-square-foot brick building at 1535 N. Dayton St., which it had been previously sharing with the Menomonee Club.
The school built a host of new classrooms and facilities like a 3D/2D printing maker lab, micro theaters for audio and visual production and a conservatory, as well as a student-designed lounge, student-organized library and a kitchen for cooking classes.
The renovations cost about $550,000 and took a little under a year to complete, school spokeswoman Lisa Humphrey said. School officials unveiled the addition last week.
"Our dedicated space now reflects who we are as a community of learners. It allows us to collaborate, create and experiment without compromising our belief in out-of-the box thinking," said Katie Klein, newly appointed head of the school.
Because of the extra space, the school can now accept more than double the amount of students. Before the expansion, the school enrolled about 43 students, and now it can accommodate up to 120, Humphrey said.
Founded in 2010, GCE Lab School puts the emphasis on experiences outside of the classroom. Its students participate in more than 200 field experiences, guest workshops, case studies and apprenticeships, according its website.
One of the school's programs, City2Classroom, pairs up students with organizations so they can learn from people on the job.
Parents at GCE Lab School's open house. [Provided]
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