Parish Hall Multipurpose Addition at Saint Leo
Saint Leo the Great Catholic School partnered with Warfel for the Parish Hall Multipurpose Addition in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The 7,562 square foot addition created one multipurpose space for school and church use. Inside, the scope included an elevated stage, event seating for 800, and a kitchen equipped for large church banquets. The same space also serves as the school cafeteria and gymnasium, with retractable bleacher seating for 200. Because the work took place during COVID-19, Warfel worked with Saint Leo through an extensive value management process. This process helped align the project with budget needs during a period of uncertainty. At the same time, the addition had to fit within an active campus operating seven days a week.
Coordinating School and Church Activity
Campus activity shaped the logistics plan from the start. Saint Leo’s church, K-8 school, and preschool schedules all had to remain part of daily coordination. Therefore, traffic flow for Sunday services, school buses, parent pick-up, and other campus movement required close attention. The project used signage, newsletters, barriers, and website updates to communicate changing conditions with parents and campus users. Because the campus remained active, each logistics adjustment considered safety, access, and the next scheduled site use.
Managing Pipeline, Grading, and Stormwater Work
One of the main project challenges involved a Sunoco Pipeline running directly through the project site. While excavation moved forward for foundations and utilities over the pipeline, construction activities required close coordination with Sunoco. The site also required imported soil to bring the area up to grade. Meanwhile, re-grading activities had to maintain existing set points, including a transformer, parking lot tie-ins, and building window wells.
Stormwater management became another important part of the work because of the new impervious area. The project included several catch basins and underground piping to direct runoff into stormwater swales. As a result, sitework accounted for grading, existing conditions, pipeline coordination, and stormwater routing in one construction area.
Completing the Parish Hall Multipurpose Addition
The completed addition brought school, church, cafeteria, gymnasium, event, and banquet functions into one shared campus space. For Saint Leo, the work reflects practical coordination across budget, campus activity, site logistics, and communication through completion. It also kept the work connected to both building needs and daily campus routines throughout the schedule.
