Summit, NJ/May 5th, 2017 – On Friday May 5th, Oratory Preparatory School in Summit was pleased to welcome over 800 guests to the Grand Opening and Dedication of its newest building, DeGaeta Hall. Guests were able to tour the new building after the Dedication Ceremony, and were treated to a barbeque on Cavalero Field to celebrate as a community.
The new structure is named after Al DeGaeta, the grandfather of an alumnus, who oversaw numerous aspects of the construction, and headed up previous renovations to the Bain Building and the installation of the turf field. With the support of the Michael A. J. Farrell Foundation-- named after Oratory’s former Board Chair--along with the generous support of numerous members the Oratory community, the building became a reality.
The new space offers over 48,000 square feet and includes a new gym, cafeteria, fitness center, athletic training room, science lab, art studio, senior lounge, locker rooms, school store and six classrooms. In addition to those, the administrative offices and Board Room are also housed in DeGaeta Hall, while additional parking space was added around the exterior. The state of the art facility was designed by architect Jeff Rawding, and Donnelly Construction worked tirelessly to bring the blueprints to life. Director of Development and Alumni Relations Walter Crum described the new addition by stating, “DeGaeta Hall brings a cutting edge facility to a Blue Ribbon School, while creating the feel of a college campus.”
Serving as the emcee for the Dedication, Head of School Robert Costello added, “So many sacrificially contributed to make the experience and facilities better for Catholic education for our boys. It is a legacy that must continue – never to allow complacency but to push forward with momentum.”
