Gilbane Building Company Celebrates Groundbreaking of Fairfield College Preparatory School’s New Barron Center for Arts & Recreation
Fairfield, CT – May 9, 2025 – Gilbane Building Company announced the groundbreaking of the Fairfield College Preparatory School’s new Barron Center for Arts & Recreation project. Over 100 guests attended the ceremony, including officials from Fairfield College Preparatory School, Fairfield University, Newman Architects, Gilbane, and Fairfield Prep students.
The Barron Center for Arts & Recreation will be a transformative addition to Fairfield Prep. Located on Fairfield University’s campus, this landmark project will redefine student life on campus. Gilbane recently demolished the existing Brissette Gymnasium to make way for the new building. In addition to constructing the Barron Center, Gilbane will renovate Arrupe Hall to enhance visual and performing arts facilities and upgrade the school entrances to increase accessibility and connectivity at all building levels.
“What do we do as educators? We accompany our youth on a hope-filled future. The Barron Center is about amplifying that and making sure all of us in this community support our young men as they go forward and change the world and set it on fire,” said Dr. Mark Nemec, President, Fairfield University.
Spanning over 47,000 SF, the Barron Center for Arts & Recreation is designed to cater to a wide range of athletic and artistic needs. The facility includes a gymnasium dedicated to Fairfield Prep Athletics, featuring a strength and conditioning center and locker rooms capable of accommodating all the athletic teams. For the arts, Fairfield Prep will now have a black box theater with 200+ seats and dedicated band rooms, among other arts-oriented spaces. Scheduled to open in the fall of 2026, the new spaces will ensure students have access to top-notch resources for both physical and creative development.
Eric Cushman, Vice President, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “We are pleased to continue our 25-plus year partnership and work on the school’s campus. This project represents a significant milestone in our ongoing commitment to enhancing educational facilities and supporting the school and University community.”
Named in honor of the Board of Governors member and alumnus, Frank Barron, class of ‘69, whose leadership and generosity have fueled the Center for Arts & Recreation project and the overall “Go Forth” campaign. The Barron Center will be funded entirely through the generous philanthropic support of Fairfield Prep alums, parents, and friends.
The Barron Center for Arts & Recreation will serve as Fairfield Prep’s anchor for arts, athletics, school Masses, and special events. Fairfield University and community partners will also utilize the space for programs aligned with the school’s shared missions. For the first time in Fairfield Prep’s history, students will have their own dedicated theater performance space, gymnasium, and a venue capable of holding the entire student body.
About Gilbane Building Company
Gilbane provides a full slate of construction and facilities-related services – from pre-construction planning and integrated consulting capabilities to comprehensive construction management, general contracting, design-build, and facility management services – for clients across various markets. Founded in 1870 and still a privately held, family-owned company, Gilbane has 45 office locations worldwide. For more information, visit www.gilbaneco.com.