Building the Next Century of Jesuit Education in Cleveland
The Grand Opening of DiSanto Hall
Oct 22 2025
Saint Ignatius High School celebrated the grand opening of DiSanto Hall on October 18, marking a $40 million investment in
Cleveland’s Ohio City neighborhood. The ceremony followed earlier renovations to the school’s library and counseling department, completed in November 2024, and underscores the school’s ongoing Campaign for Vision ’30.
The cornerstone of the school’s Campaign for Vision ’30, the project was supported by Brittan and Fred DiSanto ’80, lead donors for the building. Fred spoke about the foundation Saint Ignatius has provided him. “Saint Ignatius gave me the foundation of who I am today. Not only in the classrooms, but more importantly, in the halls and athletics." He added that his family hopes the gift will inspire other alumni and friends to support the mission, and he urged students to “explore, learn, and be Men for Others.”
The following Monday, students attended classes in DiSanto Hall just 18 months after the old Carroll Gym and a maintenance building were demolished to make room for the new facility. Wildcats were eager to explore the new building's halls, from the third-floor state-of-the-art visual arts center to the collaborative learning spaces, new athletic suite, and varsity locker room. Many admired the panoramic windows offering views of Wasmer Field and the Cleveland skyline.
History teacher Dan Hess ’88 is said to have the best view in DiSanto Hall. “The new room sees a steady parade of visitors with inevitable ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs,’” he remarked. “Room 257's floor-to-ceiling windows give us views of downtown, Great Lakes Brewery, the West Side Market, and all from a Wasmer Field fifty-yard-line perch. The panorama even impresses our students, and that's saying something," added Hess.
In the first week of DiSanto Hall's opening, 84% of the students will have a class in the new building. By the second semester, 95% of students will have at least one class there, so the impact is immediate. This doesn’t account for the students who will use common areas, locker rooms, and meeting spaces.
Students are excited to be in the new space. Xavier Saunders ’29 loves that the building is focused on Fine Arts and History, and he is looking forward to the opening of the student-run Dos Lobos Cafe.
“Watching my students' faces light up at the sight of our new classroom is something I will never forget. I don't know that our benefactors will ever know the full impact they have made on our current students and our future Wildcats. This building is a gift that benefits not only our students but our faculty as well,” said English teacher Kim Gross.
Freshman Liam Murphy said his favorite feature of the new building is the skybridges that connect the old and new wings, while sophomores Colton Kartisek and Ryan Smola were impressed by the two-story art classroom studio and the digital media room.
At the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Saint Ignatius Principal Dr. Anthony Fior ’02 shared his belief that the new building will reinforce the school’s mission. “This building is about giving our students the resources and tools to fulfill our mission, which is to help a young man find his gifts and to inspire him to share them in service to God and his church,” Fior said.
President and Chief Mission Officer Rev. Raymond P. Guiao, S.J. ’82 reflected on his tenure at Saint Ignatius, recounting milestones and expressing pride in witnessing the completion of DiSanto Hall. “I have been a privileged witness and helped bring to fruition this transformational addition, DiSanto Hall, to Saint Ignatius High School, rising from a spirit-led strategic plan for the present and future students of our school,” he noted.
