Client
St. Robert of Newminister School
Location
Ada, MI
When St. Robert of Newminster began planning for their future growth, the need involved much more than additional square footage. The school and parish community were growing, and their facilities were struggling to keep pace. Students were outgrowing existing classroom space, staff needed additional areas for collaboration and support, and athletic and community events often required leaving campus due to the school’s lack of a dedicated gymnasium. The challenge was to create a facility that could support continued growth while supporting the daily experience of students, educators, parishioners, and families.
First Companies partnered with St. Robert to deliver a transformative expansion that would not only solve immediate space constraints but also serve the community for decades to come. The project included a new two-story classroom addition and Parish Activity Center, adding more than 32,000 square feet to the campus while also renovating portions of the existing school. Throughout the planning and construction process, the focus remained the same—creating a place where learning, faith, and community could thrive together.
The completed addition feels like a natural extension of the existing campus. Designed to complement the original architecture, the building incorporates brick, metal panels, and storefront-style windows while introducing a fresh, modern aesthetic. New parking accommodations, expanded playground areas, improved site circulation, and a redesigned courtyard ensure the campus functions as well outside as it does inside. One particularly meaningful feature was the installation of a donated cross onto the exterior of the building. After developing a custom mounting and lighting solution, the cross became a prominent symbol for the school and parish community, culminating in a special blessing ceremony attended by community members as it was raised into place.
Inside, every space was designed with flexibility and purpose in mind. Bright classrooms, collaborative commons areas, staff offices, meeting rooms, and breakout spaces create opportunities for both structured learning and meaningful interaction. Natural light fills the interiors, while durable finishes ensure the building can withstand the demands of a busy school environment. Throughout the expansion, the design team looked for ways to make the building itself part of the educational and spiritual experience. The result is a facility that feels welcoming, adaptable, and distinctly connected to St. Robert’s mission.
One of the most impactful elements of the project is the way faith has been physically integrated into the building. The Rosary Path, embedded into the polished concrete floor, gives students a unique way to engage with prayer as they move through the school. Rather than confining faith to a single space or activity, the design makes it a visible and accessible part of everyday life. Similarly, thoughtfully designed alcoves and niches along the corridors provide places for students to gather, read, study, or simply connect with one another—small moments that contribute significantly to a sense of belonging and community.
The new Parish Activity Center has perhaps delivered the most visible impact. More than a gymnasium, it serves as a true community hub. Students can now remain on campus for athletics and school activities, while the flexible facility also supports performances, parish events, community gatherings, arts programming, and other large-scale functions. Enhanced audiovisual, lighting, and staging capabilities allow the space to support a wide range of uses that were previously unavailable to the school. What was once a limitation has become one of the campus’s greatest assets. It’s a venue that brings people together and creates new opportunities for engagement both within the school and across the broader community.
Like any large addition to an active campus, the project came with challenges. Existing storm, sanitary, water, and gas utilities had to be relocated while the school and church remained operational. Midway through the project, the addition of the Parish Activity Center significantly expanded the scope of work and required careful coordination to maintain momentum. Rather than viewing these issues as obstacles, the First Companies team embraced them as opportunities to adapt. Through continuous communication, close collaboration with trade partners, and innovative sequencing strategies, work continued efficiently while minimizing disruption to the campus.
Perhaps the clearest measure of success is not found in the building itself, but in the outcome for the client. First Companies delivered the project ahead of schedule and under budget while helping St. Robert achieve its long-term goals for growth. Just as importantly, the project fostered a strong partnership built on trust, transparency, and shared commitment. Today, students have room to learn and grow, educators have spaces that support collaboration and innovation, and the parish has a gathering place that will serve generations to come. What began as a need for additional space ultimately became an investment in the future of an entire community.
“First Companies were an excellent partner to work with on our project. They were professional, knowledgeable, and took the time to ensure I fully understood the project details throughout the entire build. This was a large and complex project, and I felt confident at every stage that they were acting in the best interest of the St. Robert Catholic School community as the project was completed.”
– Liz Peters | St. Robert of Newminister
