Hackley is about to get another major facelift. The next project on the Hilltop is the construction of a state-of-the-art Health and Wellness Center. While the project was announced already, administration has just started showing members of the community some of the plans for the new center. Assistant Headmasters Phil Variano and Steve Bileca and Director of Community Wellbeing Charles Colten are the administrators in charge of this innovative project, and based on the plans and ideas behind the design, this building is sure to be Hackley’s best investment to date.

Recently, Hackley has taken new initiatives in its approach to health and wellness.  “As an important aspect of our approach, Hackley created the position of Director of Community Well-Being. To that end, Mr. Colten was hired 18 months ago and has been very successful in advancing new programs and initiatives which are already taking place in a variety of ways,” said Mr. Bileca.

The Health and Wellness Center came about from the bequest of the estate of Ethel Allen. The Allen family donated three paintings, including a Monet, which auctioned off in 2012 for $43 million. “The family’s request was that the school design and construct a first-class Health and Wellness facility to enhance the physical and emotional wellness of the community,” said Mr. Variano.

For all of the outstanding athletes at Hackley, this cutting edge center will include a double-sized gym, a larger pool, spaces for fencing, wrestling, and weightlifting, a competition gym, and an indoor running track with views of the pool and squash courts. There will also be places specifically designated for physical education classes. “Some of the ways the center might support wellness programs include spaces that could potentially be used for dance, yoga, martial arts, and meditation,” Mr. Colten says.

Along with the impressive athletic facilities are important areas dedicated to wellness. “A smoothie bar/café could serve the nutritional needs of athletes who are interested in performing at their peak. There is also the potential for incorporating garden spaces and walls that support plants and water elements, all of which would clean the air, provide oxygen, and contribute to an environment that is peaceful and conducive to healthful practice and creative reflection,” said Mr. Colten.

The new Health and Wellness Center will have positive benefits for the students, faculty, and families of Hackley, both physically and mentally. The center will encourage the community to come together in exercise, learning, and competition. “It will allow us to foreground the crucial importance of the right kinds of habit formation on the development of mind, body, and character in Hackley’s students,” said Mr. Bileca.

Coaches are looking forward to the using the new facilities for their teams. Some are looking forward to having places that can help with team discussions. “I’m excited for a dedicated locker room for each team that can also serve as a meeting space,” said field hockey and soccer coach Jenny Leffler.

Others are excited for fundamental spaces that will benefit the students on their teams. “If the new center does have an indoor track, when the weather’s not looking good they can get in there and do a complete workout,” said cross country and track coach Seth Karpinski.

Students don’t know what to expect, but they definitely have some ideas of what they want to see. “It would lift up the Hackley Hornets’ spirit even further with a newer locker room that’s more clean, more efficient, and more inviting,” said junior Marisa Nakagama.

While the construction schedule for the new Health and Wellness Center has yet to be confirmed, Mr. Variano, Mr. Bileca, and Mr. Colten are working diligently to get this amazing project underway for the welfare of the Hackley community and completed for the 2018-19 school year.