Cardinal Newman High School

Santa Rosa, California

GMH Builders partnered with Cardinal Newman High School to deliver two transformative facilities central to the school’s campus renewal: a 24,000-sf Student Life Center and the school’s first-ever dedicated chapel. Developed as part of the school’s broader effort to rebuild and reimagine its grounds following the devastation of the 2017 Tubbs Fire, these projects symbolize resilience, renewal, and a commitment to educating the whole person—body, mind, and soul.

The new Student Life Center replaces the fire-damaged library and media center, emerging as a vibrant hub for student engagement. It includes an innovation lab, digital media lab, and essential support spaces like restrooms and storage. For the first time, students have access to an indoor cafeteria, a full-service kitchen, a student lounge, and conference and group study rooms—providing welcoming spaces for early arrivals and after-school activities.

Designed with sustainability in mind, the facility incorporates energy-efficient lighting and mechanical systems, low-flow plumbing fixtures, drought-tolerant landscaping, bioswales, and operable windows.

Together, the chapel and Student Life Center provide spaces that nurture community, learning, leadership, and spiritual growth—embodying the school's mission and shaping the student experience for years to come.