Fisher Family Science Wing and Wanink Art Wing the newest additions to Bloomfield Hills school
BLOOMFIELD HILLS — Marian High School in Bloomfield Hills unveiled its new science and visual arts wings during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Oct. 28, as the school modernizes to meet the needs of today’s students.
The two-part addition, which includes the Fisher Family Science Wing and the Wanink Art Wing, is the centerpiece of the Marian for Generations campaign, which the school is currently undertaking to modernize the campus, said Heather Sofran, Marian High School president.
“These spaces are more than classrooms; they’re testaments to who we are — a community that values both science and art, but also curiosity, creativity, reason and faith,” Sofran said in a press release.
The science wing was made possible by the generosity of Walter and Jo Ann “Sis” Fisher, whose daughter and granddaughters are Marian alumnae.
The new science wing features five state-of-the-art classrooms equipped with flexible lab stations and movable worktables, a computer lab, and a makerspace designed for interdisciplinary learning. The wing also includes new HVAC systems and energy-efficient windows.
The Fisher Family Science Wing also features the Sue & Ray Ebbing Family Classroom, Marian’s first sponsored classroom. Sue is a Marian alumna, as are her daughter and daughter-in-law.
“We are so grateful to the Fisher family for their belief in Marian and their partnership,” Sofran said. “The Fisher Family Science Wing stands as a living tribute to their belief that Catholic education forms not only the mind, but the heart — cultivating compassion, courage and leadership in equal measure.”
The new Wanink Art Wing, courtesy of a gift in memory of Billie Jo Wanink, a member of Marian’s inaugural graduating class in 1963, unites all the school’s creative spaces in one corridor. The wing includes a pottery studio, a dedicated kiln room, a photographic darkroom and a new digital arts lab for graphic design and media.
“Billie Jo’s unprecedented estate gift has forever elevated fine arts at Marian,” Sofran said. “This space will allow generations of Marian students to discover and nurture their artistic talents and express their unique points of view in creative ways.”
Marian is now in the second phase of its “Marian for Generations” campaign, which entails upgrades to the school’s two other main corridors as the school celebrates 66 years of education.
“Our new science and art spaces respect our past, elevate our present and boldly shape our future,” Sofran said. “And there’s still more to come.”
