Catholic Diocese of Cleveland - January 25, 2024

Members of the St. Barnabas Parish and School community in Northfield gathered Jan. 24 for the building dedication, blessing and ribbon cutting of the newest facility, the Learning Lodge.

Father James Kulway, St. Barnabas pastor, presided at the ceremony.

The Learning Lodge is dedicated in memory of the late Denise Basch, a former St. Barnabas School parent and longtime parishioner. She was heavily involved in the school, especially with athletics. Basch served as the first athletic director of the St. Barnabas Athletic Association. The dedication day marks the third anniversary of her death on Jan. 24, 2021.

“We are all so blown away by the naming of this building after my mother, who was an amazing wife, grandmother and friend to so many. It truly makes us all tear up every time thinking about that honor. The best part is, we always knew she was special and deserving of so much, but knowing others feel her purpose and continue to strive for that path is amazing,” said Dan Basch, Basch’s son. “We are so appreciative that St. Barnabas is ensuring her legacy of ‘a better everything for everyone’ continues,” he added.

In the fall of 2021, St. Barnabas School set out to raise money for an outdoor classroom at its Ignite Gala, the school’s largest fundraiser. The idea of an outdoor classroom was a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, but after additional research, other benefits became apparent and the plans for a multi-use space became a reality. School and parish officials said the new space would provide a unique environment to help foster St. Barnabas students’ creativity, problem-solving skills and intellectual development, as well as serve as a meeting space and outdoor Mass setting.

The new Learning Lodge was formerly the SBAA storage facility, but to save on rising construction costs, the parish repurposed the space to turn it into a modernized meeting space with heating, Wi-Fi and two Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant restrooms. The building has three large garage doors that can be opened facing the upper athletic fields. Plans are in place to add an outdoor patio in the spring.

Secure My Campus, a sponsor of the 2024 Ignite Gala, helped implement new technology including security cameras and an access control system for the area.

“I am so excited to see the opening of this new building on our beautiful St. Barnabas campus,” said Father Kulway. “I know during the school day it will be utilized by our students, but I envision this as a great meeting space for our parish organizations and athletics as well.”

Erin Faetanini, St. Barnabas principal, said she is looking forward to seeing Pre-K through eighth-graders have a unique learning environment that connects them to nature and gives them a perspective they normally would not have in a traditional classroom.

“We are so grateful for the support of our amazing St. Barnabas community,” she said. “Without their backing, this new space would not be possible. We are excited to see how our students and teachers incorporate the Learning Lodge into their curriculum.”

The design for the project was completed by NRDESIGN Architecture and Design firm in partnership with Summit Construction, a firm specializing in K-12 school projects. A portion of groundwork and concrete were donated by The SuperCrete Co. and electrical components were donated by Adam Zielinksi, a St. Barnabas parent who is an electrician, along with ongoing support from KPM, the campus’s building and grounds maintenance provider.

The project received approval from the Diocese of Cleveland in early spring 2023, and got the final Summit County approval for occupancy this month.

St. Barnabas School has an enrollment of nearly 500 students in Pre-K to eighth grade. It is a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence. Click here to learn more.

“She gave her life here,” said her husband Don. “She was always somebody who could see something and make it better. It’s awesome to see something done for her.”

Her son Donny said the naming of the facility “is a true testament to the amount of work she put in. It’s an honor to have her name remembered.”

The Denise Basch Learning Lodge features:

• Spacious classroom and meeting space adjacent to the athletic fields 
• Four glass garage doors for optional outdoor classroom and meeting space 
• Furnace / temperature control system to allow for year-round use
• Two restrooms
• Storage room