Whitefield Academy Unveils New Learning Commons in Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

Hundreds of community members turned out for the ribbon cutting ceremony of the new Learning Commons at Whitefield Academy on Monday, August 10, 2026. Students, parents, alumni, founders, faculty and staff, local elected officials, and more joined the celebration and enjoyed self-guided tours of the new 62,000 square-foot space.

“This Learning Commons was a vision from the very first board and founders,” said Whitefield’s Head of School, Dr. Kevin Bracher. “It will transform and enhance campus experience for the entire student body.”

The crowd heard brief remarks from Bracher, board chair Paul Cahill, and student body president, Camille Hanson. There were also appearances from the Wolfpack cheerleaders, marching band, and mascot, Wolfie.

You can view photos from the ribbon cutting event here. The event also garnered some local media attention from outlets like the Marietta Daily-Journal and CBS News Atlanta.

“On behalf of the board, administration, faculty, and students, we want to thank everyone who played a part in making this facility possible,” said Cahill. “That includes parents, grandparents, alumni, the parents of alumni, foundations, faculty and staff members, and students.”

Visitors had the opportunity to walk through the many spaces that students will get to enjoy through the school year. The new 64,000 square foot multipurpose building will house a new dining hall, a student-run cafe, academic enrichment center,  library, innovation center, campus store, podcast studio, prayer room, conference rooms, and the school’s administrative offices. This long-awaited Learning Commons will serve as a central hub for learning and gathering on the school’s 100-acre campus.

This ribbon cutting and dedication comes as the culmination of years of work and dedication from the entire Whitefield community. Groundbreaking on the new space took place in February 2025, but visions for the new space developed long before that.

The journey started back in July 2021 when Whitefield introduced the Called Up Capital Campaign as a way to fund this phase of growth. Reaching the ambitious goal of $40.2 million was the largest fundraising effort in the school’s three-decade history. The Called Up Campaign funded renovations to the baseball and softball facilities which were completed in summer of 2025, as well as renovations to the upper and middle school buildings. The community exceeded the goal and raised nearly $40.2 million.