Breaking Ground, Building a Legacy: Oakbrook Celebrates Historic Milestone
Oakbrook Preparatory School marked a historic milestone Wednesday morning as students, faculty, school leadership and special guests gathered to celebrate the ceremonial groundbreaking of a new 37,000-square-foot, two-story building. The project represents a significant investment in Oakbrook’s future, expanding opportunities for students while strengthening the school’s commitment to Christ-centered education.
Made possible through the extraordinary biblical generosity of a special Oakbrook family, the new building represents far more than an investment in facilities. It is an investment in generations of students who will learn, grow and discover their God-given purpose within its walls.
During the ceremony, Head of School R. Andrew Bell challenged those gathered to consider the lasting impact of the project.
“Buildings have walls, windows, doors, and roofs. But schools are built through relationships, ideas, experiences, and the lives of children,” Bell said.
Designed for Learning, Built for Generations
The new facility will provide expanded learning environments for Oakbrook’s early education and Lower School students, creating spaces designed to nurture curiosity, creativity, academic excellence and spiritual growth.
Plans include an additional café and catering kitchen, a library opening into a beautiful central courtyard, and dedicated spaces for tutoring, art, music, STEM and physical education.
At the heart of the building will be a new chapel, a space dedicated to worship, reflection and spiritual formation. The chapel will feature a distinctive mosaic depicting a dream connected to the donor’s personal faith journey, creating a meaningful reminder of the faith and generosity that made the project possible.
Drawing on the Charlotte Mason educational tradition, Bell emphasized that Oakbrook’s approach to education recognizes children as whole persons, with minds to develop, hearts to shape, imaginations to cultivate and souls to nurture.
The significance of the new building, he explained, lies not simply in the spaces themselves, but in the opportunities they will create for students to discover their gifts, encounter meaningful ideas, develop lasting relationships and deepen their faith.
Honoring the Past, Investing in the Future
Wednesday’s celebration also honored the vision and faith upon which Oakbrook was founded.
Oakbrook founder Rosemary Moore and her husband, Lewis, joined the school community for the occasion. Bell recognized Moore’s foundational role in establishing a school dedicated to educating both the minds and hearts of children.
The ceremony began with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance and opening remarks from Bell, followed by special remarks from Kim Land, Chair of Oakbrook’s Board of Directors; Andrew McCall of McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture; and Ken Anderson of Roebuck Construction.
Members of Oakbrook’s Board of Directors joined representatives from the architectural and construction teams for the ceremonial groundbreaking, marking the official beginning of an exciting new chapter.
Bell also expressed the school’s profound gratitude to the family whose extraordinary gift made the project possible, recognizing not only their generosity but also their belief in Oakbrook’s mission and the children who will benefit from this investment for decades to come.
A Legacy of Faith and Generosity
As Oakbrook continues to grow, this expansion reflects the school’s commitment to providing an educational experience that challenges students academically, nurtures their individual gifts and encourages a growing relationship with Jesus Christ.
While Wednesday’s ceremony marked the beginning of construction, its greatest significance lies in the opportunities that will unfold within the new building and the generations of students whose lives will be shaped there.