news-record.com

HIGH POINT (MCT) — Immaculate Heart of Mary will invest $10 million in a new education center at the Catholic church in north High Point.

Named the Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish Life & Mark and Rena Norcross Education Center, the facility will house the IHM School and other parish and community resources.

The center, at more than 73,000 square feet, will double the education space now at the IHM School at Montlieu Avenue and Centennial Street near downtown. The new location will allow the student capacity to grow from 275 to 400 for prekindergarten through eighth grade, IHM officials say. The facility will include a high-tech media center and library facilities for teaching science, language, the arts and music. Athletic facilities will include a gymnasium and outdoor sports fields.

Construction will begin as soon as the capital campaign is completed. A $2 million pledge gift was given by Mark and Rena Norcross to the campaign.

''... We are blessed to be a part of this project," Mark Norcross said.

Once construction starts, the new facility should be completed in 12 to 14 months, IHM officials indicate. The existing IHM School property at Montlieu and Centennial will be put up for sale once the new school opens.

The center will benefit thousands of people's lives that will be changed in a positive and meaningful way through activities there, said Jim Kelley, director of development for the Diocese of Charlotte.

In the past eight years since relocating the church to Johnson Street and Skeet Club Road, IHM membership has more than doubled to more than 1,700 families, church officials indicate.

Church officials say the education center project will invest millions of dollars into the community and contribute to job growth in the future.