A 64,000-square-foot building with a dining hall, podcast studio, and innovation lab will open to students at Whitefield Academy when classes resume for the 2026-27 school year. The project is the largest capital undertaking in the Smyrna private school's history, according to a Cobb Chamber of Commerce announcement published July 19.

The grand opening ceremony for the Learning Commons is scheduled for Monday, August 10, at 3 p.m. at 1 Whitefield Drive in Smyrna. The event is free and open to the public with no RSVP required.

The building will serve as a central hub on the school's 100-acre campus, housing a new dining hall built to accommodate growing enrollment, a student-run cafe, an academic enrichment center, a research library, a broadcasting and podcasting lab, an expanded innovation lab, a prayer room, a campus store, conference rooms, and administrative offices. The building also includes an outdoor patio.

"This opening marks the start of a new era for Whitefield," Head of School Dr. Kevin Bracher said in the Cobb Chamber announcement. "We've held the vision for this new campus addition for many years, and we're excited for how it will enrich the educational experience for our students."

How it was funded

The project was bankrolled through the Called Up Capital Campaign, which launched in July 2021 with a goal of $39.2 million. Donors exceeded that target, contributing more than $40 million, according to the Cobb Chamber. It is the largest fundraising effort in the school's history since its 1997 founding.

The campaign also funded renovations to baseball and softball facilities completed in summer 2025 and upgrades to the upper and middle school buildings.

Whitefield constructed the Learning Commons without taking on long-term debt, according to a November 2025 planning document the school presented to the Southern Association of Independent Schools. The school obtains full written commitments from donors before breaking ground on major buildings.

Groundbreaking took place in February 2025. Students and faculty endured extended time in temporary spaces and navigated construction closures during the build, according to the Cobb Chamber announcement.

Who it serves

Whitefield Academy is a Christ-centered college preparatory school serving students in pre-K through 12th grade. The school enrolled more than 950 students as of fall 2025, according to the SAIS document, and draws families from more than 45 metro Atlanta zip codes.

Lauren Race, director of development, credited the school community's generosity. "We would not have been able to take this major step forward without the collective efforts of everyone who gave to this campaign," Race said in the announcement.

What's next

Attendees at the August 10 ceremony will hear brief remarks from school leadership and tour the building for the first time. For questions, contact [email protected] or call 678-305-3000.

The opening arrives as Whitefield approaches its 30th anniversary in 2027.