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Kirby Family Hall | Dining and Engagement

Kirby Family Hall Construction Has Begun!

Celebrating the Completion of a $23 Million Concentrated Campaign!

The completion of this $23 million fundraising campaign is a celebration of the culture of philanthropy in our Casady Community. Master Campus Planning is developed through the lens of Strategic Planning by our Board of Trustees to keep sustainability and viability at the forefront. Cultivating and stewarding strong relationships with our patrons also allows us to fund the most compelling project, whether it be bricks and mortar, endowment, or another interest for our donors, while maintaining focus on our long-term planning.

Kirby Family Hall | Dining and Engagement

Casady School’s positive and strong enrollment growth and program development inspired the need for a new Upper Division hub for dining, student activity, and gatherings. This new Student Dining and Engagement Center will enhance 9th-12th grade students’ educational, dining, and community experience. Focus on this vast space will promote the sense of community for all of our high school students. It will also serve as a showcase where members of our Casady Community will gather for special events throughout the year.

This approximately 30,000-square-foot student-centric facility has been designed as a modern state-of-the-art building that will significantly enhance the dining experience and simultaneously expand community space, supporting and facilitating growth in student enrollment. Notably, this new building will offer a flexible dining environment. It will be situated to the east of the Chapel of St. Edward the Confessor and will feature a Promenade across the Chapel lawn. The proximity to the Chapel and the prominent greenspace with new sidewalks will create a spectacular shift for the center of the Upper Division student campus experience to the spiritual epicenter of the School’s foundation. Casady School was founded as an Episcopal day school that would support the education of our students in mind, body, and spirit.

Features include:
  • Gaylord Student Commons
  • David W. Gorham Terrace
    • Overlooking lake, Jaume Plensa Sculpture, Founders' Memorial, redesigned Butterfly Garden
  • Browne Family Library
  • Dining Hall, Kitchen, Servery
  • Laura's Cafe
  • Samis Family College Counseling and Administration Center
  • Variable Meeting Spaces
  • Additional Classrooms
  • Promenade to the west across the Chapel lawn
  • Redesigned Parking and Sidewalk configurations

An investment in the UD Student Dining and Engagement Center reflects a partnership highlighting Casady School's commitment to continuously improving its students' experiences and maintaining educational excellence to develop community and global leaders. This is an exceptional opportunity to significantly impact the lives of generations of students and the broader Casady Community.

Gratitude is extended to Gay and Ed Kirby and their family whose philanthropic spirit inspired a $12 million gift to underwrite a significant portion of this new Dining and Engagement Center. The Kirby’s generosity led the way for several additional lead gifts from members of our Casady Community who have an exceptional understanding of how our donor community can support a non-profit institution such as Casady. This investment reflects a partnership highlighting Casady School's commitment to continuously improving the student experience and maintaining educational excellence while significantly impacting generations of Cyclones.

Exclusive naming within various interior and exterior areas of the facility are unique opportunities for our most generous donors to leave an enduring legacy within the new dining and multi-purpose facility.

FAQ

List of 5 frequently asked questions.

  • How will this new facility alleviate pressure in Calvert Hall and the Dining Experience?

    When Kirby Family Hall for Dining and Engagement is open, all Upper Division Cyclones will have lunch there. Dining staff and meal prep, including a cafe and snack bar, will have no dependence on Calvert Hall. This eliminates the need for three lunch periods in one building. It also alleviates scheduling hurdles for Lower and Middle Divisions and the pressure on dining staff to prepare three consecutive meals to serve nearly 900 students in a 2.5-hour time period.

  • What happened to Woolsey House?

    Woolsey House, named for longtime Headmaster Dr. Robert B. Woolsey, was razed to prepare the site for new construction. The former Headmaster’s home served the School well since it was built in 1963.

    "I have a hunch that Casady still attracts and retains remarkable educators. In truth, you could knock down every building, and Casady School would remain relevant and engaging because that's the unshakeable foundation that was being laid down at the same time Woolsey House was going up." - Robert Woolsey '80, son of Dr. and Mrs. Robert B. Woolsey

    Charlie Britton was the last Head of School to live on campus. After the Britton family’s departure, the structure was converted to offices.

  • Where will graduation take place?

    Graduation will take place on the Chapel Lawn. Design for the new facility and Chapel Lawn took into account the expectation of Commencement Exercises always taking place on our beautiful campus.

  • When will Kirby Family Hall open?

    If our construction schedule runs on time, we hope to open Kirby Family Hall for the Fall of 2026.

  • What will happen to the Butterfly Garden?

    The Butterfly Garden is a special gift of the Class of 1969 and serves as a special memorial for class members. The Butterfly Garden will be relocated to the northwest side of Kirby Family Hall. The proximity of the Butterfly Garden to the Jaume Plensa sculpture “Marrakech’s Soul” the Founders’ Memorial, on the north side of the Chapel that recognizes students, faculty, trustees, and headmasters in Casady’s early years will be a fitting location for the Butterfly Garden.

    Classes in Primary and Lower Division frequent the Butterfly Garden, and it will be a delightful cross-divisional experience as they enjoy the beauty of the space next to the David W. Gorham Terrace where our Upper Division students will be spending time outside studying or gathering together.

Video | Kirby Family Hall

Partner with Us

  • Link | Giving Opportunities
    The Philanthropic Spirit is alive at Casady School! Please reach out to learn how we can partner together for Kirby Family Hall and Master Campus Development at Casady School.

    Nathan L. Sheldon
    Head of School
    sheldonn@casady.org
    405.749.3111

    Mathew Burkholder, CFRE
    Development Director
    burkholderm@casady.org
    405.749.3186

Available Naming Opportunities

Exclusive naming within various interior and exterior areas of the facility are unique opportunities for our most generous donors to leave an enduring legacy within the new dining and multi-purpose facility.

Dining Room $5,000,000
Classroom Wing $1,000,000
Classrooms (3) $250,000
Board | Large Meeting Room $300,000
Media Center Study Rooms
Individual Mid-Size Study Room $200,000
Individual Study Rooms (4) $100,000

Reserved Names
Kirby Family Hall
Gaylord Student Commons
David W. Gorham Terrace
Browne Family Library and Media Center
Samis Family College Counseling | Administration
Laura's Cafe
Huchton Family Classroom

Video | Architect's Animation

The Kirby Family

9500 N. Pennsylvania Ave., Oklahoma City, OK 73120     |     Phone: (405) 749-3100
Casady School is an independent, co-educational, college preparatory, Episcopal day school serving students in pre-k-12. Educating Mind, Body, and Spirit.
Casady School is a PreK-12, independent, college preparatory Episcopal day school committed to deeper-level learning. Casady School welcomes a student body that reflects the diversity of the world around us and therefore does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, nationality, or ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, athletics, and other school-administered programs generally accorded or made available to students at the School.