Arts and Innovation wing under construction at Evanston, Illinois, high school

The wing is part of $48 million in campus renovations in the works at Evanston Township High School.

July 31, 2025

Key Highlights

The new wing includes an orchestra space, black box theater, and extended hallway
The project is funded by the Evanston Township High School Foundation.
The project is the first major theater construction at the high school since 1958.

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Evanston Township High School in Evanston, Illinois, has broken ground on an Arts and Innovation Wing.

The Chicago Tribune reports that the first phase of construction will include a new orchestra space, a black box-style theater and an extended hallway.

The project is part of $48 million in campus renovations being funded by the Evanston Township High School Foundation. It has already raised $23.5 million.

"This is historic," Superintendent Marcus Campbell said. "We’ve not built a new theater since 1958. So we are definitely making a historic investment today.”

So far, the biggest donor toward the expansion is school alumnus and health care executive Leonard Schaeffer; the school board approved a $7 million commitment from Schaeffer in January. The upgraded auditorium will be named the Leonard D. Schaeffer Center for the Performing Arts when construction is complete.

About the Author

Mike Kennedy

Senior Editor

Mike Kennedy has been writing about education for American School & University since 1999. He also has reported on schools and other topics for The Chicago Tribune, The Kansas City Star, The Kansas City Times and City News Bureau of Chicago. He is a graduate of Michigan State University.