DETROIT — The University of Detroit Jesuit High School unveiled plans to build a $16 million, 40,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art science and engineering center on the school’s Seven Mile Road campus.


In a media event June 16 at the Catholic high school, leaders said the four-story building, slated for completion in August 2016, would enhance the school’s profile as a leader in the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields.

“The STEM center at our high school will double the space for biology, chemistry and physics, provide labs for engineering and research, as well as our nationally recognized eco-car and robotics programs,” said Fr. Karl Kiser, SJ, the school’s president. “It will also include a dedicated classroom for seventh- and eighth-grade students.”

The groundbreaking event was attended by several dignitaries and U of D Jesuit alumni, as well as Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and Harvey Hollins III, director of the Michigan’s Office of Urban Initiatives. Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron offered a blessing of the grounds with a sprinkling rite, and Jesuit Bro. Guy Consolmagno, a Vatican astronomer and 1970 graduate of the school, also spoke to attendees via a recorded video message.

Construction of the STEM building began this spring after demolition of the school’s former science wing between the main school building and the Jesuit residence on campus. According to a news release from the school, the new building will be the “first and only high school facility of its kind in Detroit” and represents “the largest dollar investment in science and technology at any Michigan high school in recent years.”

Founded in 1877, University of Detroit Jesuit High School is the oldest high school in Detroit, and one of three Catholic high schools currently within the city’s limits. The science and engineering center will be the largest addition to the school since the construction of the main school building in 1930.

Fr. Kiser noted that while “STEM is the future, STEM in and of itself is not the answer” to a complete and well-rounded education.

“The 450-year-old Jesuit tradition is a perfect companion to STEM education,” he said. “Jesuit education is rooted in excellence, critical thinking, academic rigor, service to the community and most importantly faithfulness.”

Pointing out that Pope Francis, a Jesuit himself, has a graduate degree in chemistry and has taught at the high school level, Fr. Kiser said faith and science go hand-in-hand.

“Our faith energetically embraces the deep questions that science poses to the world. The science question of how it all works and comes about is a perfect match for the faith question, ‘Why is there anything at all?’ and ‘Why does it have meaning?’” he said. “Every day faith and science will converge as we challenge our students to reach for excellence while reaching out to serve others.”

Many speakers credited the University of Detroit Jesuit High School’s decision to remain in Detroit during the difficult period of the 1970s with strengthening the school’s diversity and overall educational quality.

Mayor Duggan, a 1976 graduate of Detroit Catholic Central High School, recalled his “jealousy” when it was announced that his alma mater would be moving to Redford amidst the economic turmoil, but “our rivals” at U of D Jesuit “were so strong” that they could remain and thrive in Detroit.

“It’s hard to describe how shocking that decision was when it was announced,” Duggan said. “I watched in fascination as the investment was poured into this campus, they extended the education down to the seventh- and eighth-graders, and U of D continued to become a greater and greater part of the community, and is now an essential part of the fabric of the community of Detroit.”

Dr. Otis W. Brawley, a 1977 U of D Jesuit graduate and chief medical officer for the American Cancer Society, said it was one of his high school teachers who first stimulated in him a love for science and an appreciation for how it ties in with various other disciplines.

“The more one learns about science, the more one’s faith is increased,” Dr. Brawley said. “Reading and writing are incredibly important to science,” he continued, adding that U of D Jesuit’s other traditions in math, theology, ethics and morality all contribute to a philosophy that undergirds a sound mind.

Dr. Brawley said because science is constantly evolving, the need for upgraded learning tools is essential.

“As we address the challenges of teaching science, we need new facilities. We need a science and engineering building,” he said. “As U of D Jesuit notices the evolution of science and the evolution of knowledge, they realize that we need a good foundation for young men to learn, young men who develop a moral compass, the ability to read and write, and an appreciation and understanding of science.”

According to the school, of the 900 students enrolled at University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy, 72 percent are Catholic, and 20 percent live in Detroit, with the remaining 80 percent representing seven counties and 70 communities in the Metro area.