Louisville's Sacred Heart Academy unveils $5 million STEM facility

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A Louisville private school just opened a new facility focused on STEM.

Sacred Heart cut the ribbon on its $5 million Ursuline Innovation STEM Center in late September. STEM is an acronym for science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

The facility is a collaboration between Sacred Heart and the Ursuline Sisters, and is housed in the historic Ursuline Sisters Laundry Building on Lexington Road, according to our partners at Louisville Business First.

The 6,000-square-foot STEM Center has 3D printers, robotic kits and laser-cutting machines. It will offer students hands-on learning in environmental science, engineering and sustainability. There will also be a greenhouse for class activities, a system to monitor energy use and hydroponics systems.

The project was announced in February.

Sacred Heart President Karen McNay told LBF the project sought to preserve the historic look while updating the space for modern educational use. It was designed for flexibility, with movable furniture and glass walls to allow for different configurations.

The private school has also hired two new directors who will lead the environmental education program and design. The directs will work with faculty across campus to incorporate STEM and environmental learning into the curriculum.

The center's debut comes as Sacred Heart launches a $30 million campaign goal to support several ongoing and future projects, LBF reported in September. Projects include a new dining hall, outdoor patio, a student-run coffee shop and cafe, a welcoming entrance and conference center and a new Student Life Hub.

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