A $4 million fundraising effort is helping transform one of the oldest buildings at Bolles’ Bartram Campus into a modern innovation space for middle school students.
A major gift from Bree Ringhaver Alban and David Alban—though the exact amount hasn’t been shared—will fund the renovation of North Hall into the new Alban Arts and Innovation Center.
Bolles President and Head of School Tyler Hodges said the project both preserves the school’s history and looks ahead to the future, emphasizing how important arts and innovation are in developing confident, creative students. He also expressed appreciation for the Alban family’s support and vision.
Bree Ringhaver Alban, a Bolles alum, owns Windemere Equestrian Center in Jacksonville, serves on Flagler College’s Board of Trustees, and has held leadership roles within her family’s company, Ring Power Corporation.
The renovated space—formerly used for the Bartram Schools for Girls boarding program—will become a dedicated hub for fine arts and innovation. Plans include areas for art, band, and chorus, along with an innovation lab. The center will cover about 6,770 square feet, plus an additional 858-square-foot covered patio.
This project is similar in spirit to a larger, recently completed development at the Bolles Upper School San Jose Campus: a three-story, $25 million innovation center that now houses science, math, and technology programs.
At the Bartram Campus, school leaders say the new center will encourage creativity, collaboration, performance, and problem-solving.
The Alban Arts and Innovation Center is just one of several major projects underway across Bolles campuses, especially at the San Jose location. In the past six months alone, the school has received millions in philanthropic support.
In February, Bolles received the largest single gift in its 93-year history—an $8 million donation from the estate of Kernan and George Hodges Jr. to support the long-term maintenance of George H. Hodges Field.
Earlier, in October 2025, Dream Finders Homes donated $6 million toward building a new athletic performance center. That facility will include around 12,000 square feet of indoor space, along with 13,000 square feet of covered outdoor training space overlooking Skinner-Barco Stadium and Hodges Field.
Information from: https://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/news/2026/04/07/philanthropic-dollars-bolles-innovation-center.html
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