The Lenexa Planning Commission approved a long-in-the-works plan for St. James Academy to construct an auditorium to perform and showcase art on campus.

On Oct. 5, the Lenexa Planning Commission recommended approval for a preliminary plan to build the future St. James Academy Cultural Arts Center, as well as other future additions to the property.

The planned $16 million project includes construction of a 20,967 square foot auditorium and several classrooms, which in totality will be known as the Cultural Arts Center. They will be added to the campus’s main building.

“This has been a dream for 15 years to try to get this space accomplished,” St. James Academy President Andy Tylicki said to the Johnson County Post.

Construction will be paid for through fundraising and donations. The Lenexa-based engineering firm Schlagel is the applicant.

The high school highlights the arts

While the Catholic high school opened in 2005, plans for a performance space for St. James’ students started percolating around 2009, Tylicki said.

“We had a pretty strong intentionality … To make sure that we did bring performing arts into our school, and it’s really grown significantly over the years,” he said. 

Through the years, the school built a stadium, tennis courts, a field house and additional parking, in response to its continued growth.

“That first year, we only had 124 freshmen, and now we’re 1,000 students. So we’ve grown significantly over the years,” Tylicki said. 

Still, it never lost sight of venue for live performances.

“This is kind of the final project that’s on the radar — Getting our performing arts students a space where they can actually perform on a real stage in a real theater is going to be amazing,” Tylicki said. 

Live performances are mostly held in the cafeteria

Currently, the students perform in the high school’s cafeteria, with performances ranging musicals and plays to choir and band concerts.

“Sometimes we rent facilities. We’ll rent the Bell (Cultural Events) Center out at MidAmerica Nazarene. But primarily, we’ll just use the cafeteria. So they take basically a full week and build a stage (there),” Tylicki said. 

While Tylicki praised the students and the parent volunteer group that put that together, he said it’s time they get an actual stage.

“It‘s a cafeteria. It’s a square building and the acoustics are not great. But they perform at a very high level for what they’re given,” he said. 

Planning Commission was on board

Commissioners Ben Harber and Mike Burson both saw the project as a good fit for the campus.

“I appreciate how the applicant has added to their site and campus in a very thoughtful way. And I think this fits, and it’s going to be a plus in the overall plan of it,” Harber said. 

The high school continuing to add to and improve its campus is a plus, Commissioner Chris Poss said in his closing remarks before the planning commission voted.

“It’s good to see that the school is making more improvements to the property … It‘s always good to see more investment in the community. It’s a good property and it’s a good asset for the city to have,” he said. 

What’s next

St. James Academy has launched a capital campaign to raise money for the addition.

The Lenexa City Council will vote on the preliminary plan at its meeting at 7 p.m. on Oct. 20.

If the project is approved, Tylicki said the high school hopes to break ground in spring 2027 and open it by August 2028.