Sparks fly from the third floor of the soon-to-be ULab while the students and teachers of University Prep work diligently across the street. After over ten years of planning, negotiating, and now constructing, the new ULab building is set to be open for business in the fall of 2023.

  With the process of exterior framing starting this week on the 13th of February, the next steps are to begin: creating the walls, laying the bricks, and essentially, wrapping the structure. Susan Lansverk, the Assistant Head of School for Finance and Operations at Uprep, who has been there for every step of the ULab journey, explains her feelings pending the approaching opening.

“The construction process is progressing well for the ULab…It’s an exciting time to be a Puma!” Lansverk said. 

In 2016, Brian Gonzales, the Director of Global and Outdoor Education also joined the team for this undertaking. Alongside Lansverk, he has devoted years of time and energy to the ULab.

“I’m anxious about it too, but I’m also really excited about where we are in the project,” Gonzales said. “It feels like a long time ago that we started having this conversation, so to finally see it being built, [shakes head in amazement]” 

The last major expansion for UPrep was in 2002 with the construction of Founders Hall on the western side of the school. After 21 years, the class of 2024 will be the oldest class to witness the newest addition to campus. With only months left in its construction, all those involved in the ULab are ready to see their ideas become a reality. 

“I hope you all are excited about this, and I can’t wait to see the space,” Gonzales said.