As work on the Olander Center for Student Life at the A.E. Finley Activity Center heads into the final stretch during the season of gratitude, the building’s contractors and subcontractors have been given a creative — and very visible — token of the Ravenscroft community’s appreciation for all of their hard work.

Organized by visual arts faculty Allison Tierney and Jennifer Lam, the giant “Thank You!” banner was created by students and signed, via colorful thumbprints, by dozens of students, faculty and staff to show their gratitude for the nearly 18 months of work the project team has given to make the new facility a reality.

“We wanted to thank the people who have worked tirelessly on our campus to make the vision into a reality,” Lam explained. “Upper School Art I students were asked to submit banner designs, and Eve Caudill ’25’s submission was chosen to represent Ravenscroft. Students from Middle and Upper School Visual Art classes worked to paint the design onto the banner.” 

“Students were excited to participate in the painting of this banner, with some even coming in during their free time to continue painting,” Tierney added. “We were pleased with the amount of engagement of students and teachers alike as they added their own mark to the banner in the form of a thumb dot.”

Director of Facilities Chris Farrow, who works closely with the project team, got involved to oversee the installation of the sign in the new dining hall, hanging it over the balcony where it would greet the many workers who have helped bring the vision of Little Diversified Architectural Consulting to life.

“It is because of the efforts of so many people that this project has run so smoothly and remained on schedule, and it means a lot to us to be able to show our appreciation,” he said. “When Brasfield & Gorrie Senior Project Manager Maggie Brock saw the banner, she told me, ‘I don’t think we’ve ever had a client do something like this for us before.’ I told her, proudly, ‘Welcome to the Croft.’”

Thank you to Little Diversified Architectural Consulting, Withers Ravenel Civic and Environmental Engineering, Brasfield & Gorrie, Terra Tech Engineering and the many subcontractors who are creating this transformational space for our campus community!