Students, faculty, staff, alumni, trustees, donors, and friends of Fountain Valley School gathered on May 29, 2026 to celebrate a milestone: the groundbreaking of a new 56,000-square-foot Academic Complex and Center for the American West.

Scheduled to open in fall 2027, the project represents a major investment in the future of the School as it approaches its centennial in 2030. The new complex will bring together a humanities wing, a STEM wing, and a library designed to serve as the heart of campus life, alongside the first-of-its-kind Center for the American West.

During the ceremony, Head of School Megan Harlan described the project as an important step in advancing the School's strategic vision and ensuring Fountain Valley remains a vibrant and transformative place for generations to come.

 "Fountain Valley is a school with a spirit and soul unlike any other—a place that has changed generations of young people and must continue to do so for generations to come,“ said Megan Harlan. “Quite simply, it is the kind of place the world needs now more than ever." 

Designed to foster collaboration, creativity, and connection, the Academic Center will feature classrooms, laboratories, maker spaces, presentation areas, study nooks, and gathering spaces where students and faculty can learn and engage with one another. At a time when so much of life is mediated through screens, the project reflects the School's belief that meaningful human connection remains at the center of education.

The groundbreaking also celebrated the extraordinary generosity of the Fountain Valley community. Alumni, parents, trustees, and friends have united behind a shared vision for the School's future, including support for spaces such as the Bill Fraser '66 All-School Outdoor Amphitheater, which will serve as a gathering place for generations of Danes.

As Fountain Valley School looks toward its second century, the groundbreaking marks both a celebration of its history and a commitment to its future. For nearly 100 years, the Prairie has shaped how students learn, lead, and connect with the world around them. This new Academic Center and Center for the American West will ensure that tradition continues for generations to come.

Watch the groundbreaking HERE.