Kanas Commons (Capital Campaign)
Kanas Commons
A Place to Grow: A Campaign for The Stony Brook School
[NEW: Watch our progress with the Kanas Commons webcam!]
In the last 15 years, three new residence halls and three major dorm renovations have been completed, along with significant upgrades to academic space, athletic facilities, and worship and assembly areas.
One major piece remains to create an environment that best fosters character-development in the context of community–a new dining room and student center, which will be known as Kanas Commons.
To be situated between Johnston Hall and Barnhouse (see the site plan here), and overlooking both the Campus Green and the athletic fields, this 19,400 square-foot building will feature a spacious dining room and full-size industrial kitchen on the main level. The lower level will house offices and activity areas devoted to developing student leaders, as well as a snack bar, campus store, and general areas conducive to unstructured interaction.
As the capstone of the School’s masterplan, Kanas Commons embodies our conviction that what happens in the classroom is most deeply received when it is supplemented by formal and informal encounters with teachers and peers. It will also bridge the global and local student body, which is a treasured aspect of The Stony Brook School.
A Gift and a Challenge
Having experienced both the organic and structured manner in which The Stony Brook School trains students to “serve the world through their character and leadership,” Board member Elaine Kanas and her husband John (parents of John Kanas ’09) have made a transformational challenge gift that sets the stage for many future generations of students to learn to lead and serve.
As the lead donors for Kanas Commons, Elaine and John affirm the lifelong value of an education such as The Stony Brook School offers. Through their giving, they are playing a critical role in Stony Brook’s timeless mission of developing leaders of character.
John and Elaine, along with The Stony Brook School’s Board of Trustees, ask the entire SBS community to join together to bring this final campaign goal to fruition. Your generous gift will help to make Kanas Commons a reality. Click here for floor plans and remaining naming opportunities.
To make a gift online with a credit card, simply fill out our giving form, add your gift amount to the box marked “Capital Funds” and check the first box under the “Special Instructions” section, specifying “Kanas Commons” and any desired naming opportunity in the accompanying text field.
Please contact Director of Development Kathryn Sides for more information.
