Academic and STEAM

January 11th 2023

The 2020-21 academic year began with the opening of two newly renovated buildings on the OLP campus, Esther Sanfilippo Navarra Hall and Shiley Center for Science and Innovation. These newly renovated buildings now meet the needs of our 21st Century learners.

Navarra Hall has been modernized with additional ADA-accessible classrooms, collaborative work spaces, TV production studio, student commons, and critical infrastructure improvements. Shiley Hall is now equipped with state-of-the-art engineering and science labs that are ADA-accessible and prepared to educate students in high-caliber STEM courses. We now have adequate space for students enrolled in the high-caliber STEM courses that have been added to our curriculum. All science labs are ADA-accessible.

Jobs in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) are projected to continue to increase. With this expected demand, it is imperative for OLP to have the lab space to best equip our students. We now have five fully functioning Bio-Chem Labs with fume hoods; as well as our Byron Family Engineering and Makerspace which is an outfitted Engineering lab with 3-D printing, robot garage, and outdoor activity area. The Byron Family Engineering and Makerspace will support engineering and robotics and engage learners in creative higher-order problem solving, hands-on design and construction, and feature roll-up doors so students can move outside to use power tools or to move robots around.

Learning elements incorporated into our new classrooms: White board walls for collaboration; improved technology; natural light and electronic shades; laminated glass to reduce environmental noise into classrooms; operable windows for fresh air opportunities; and dimmable, daylight controlled, direct-indirect lights for glare free devise usage.