Saint Thomas Academy, Visitation School and Opus celebrated the completion of the construction of the STA/Vis Michel Family Aquatic Center with a ribbon-cutting ceremony yesterday. The $12-million facility on the campus of Saint Thomas Academy in Mendota Heights, Minnesota, is home to the swim and dive teams for both Saint Thomas Academy and Visitation School, which collectively have more than 40 state swim and dive championships.
“I am thrilled to see the completion of this beautiful new aquatic center,” said Chip Michel ’67, co-chair of the capital campaign for the facility and title donor, along with his wife Mary. “While it bears our family’s name, this facility reflects a community that prioritizes opportunities for kids to build physical, emotional and social skills that will shape their lives for years. My four years on the swim team were the most formidable years of my life and resulted in some of the most profound experiences and friendships of my life.” Following the ceremony, Chip led a celebratory plunge into the pool for those in attendance.
The Michels contributed $6 million toward the project, representing the largest gift in the history of both schools. The Michel’s daughter, Bridget Michel Batzler (Visitation ‘94), has two sons who attended Visitation through lower school and graduated from the Academy: Henry Batzler ’24 and John Batzler ’25. The Michel’s son, Charlie ’95, also has a son, Charles ’33.
“We are incredibly grateful to Chip and the Michel family, as well as the more than 1,000 donors who made the aquatic center possible,” said Brian Ragatz STA ’98, president of Saint Thomas Academy. “In addition to helping the Saint Thomas Academy and Visitation School swim and dive teams be more competitive, this premier training facility will help our two schools be more competitive when prospective families are considering enrolling. We now have a facility commensurate with the talent of our teams and reputations of our schools.”
The schools hired Montclair, New Jersey-based Fabiano Designs to design the new aquatic facility. Opus collaborated closely with the firm to finalize the design and then manage construction, which began with demolition of the previous pool in April 2024. The new 17,000-square-foot facility includes a 25-yard short course competition pool with eight lanes, a diving board, bleacher seating for 350, an observation deck, an exposed wood ceiling and new locker rooms for both schools.
“The Michel Family Aquatic Center marks an exciting new chapter for Visitation athletics,” said Dr. Jennifer Bigelow, head of school, Visitation School. “Thanks to the incredible generosity of our donors, we now have a space that will foster athletic excellence as well as friendship, teamwork and community. We are thrilled for the opportunities this brings to our students, families and community.”
Opus has built several facilities for both schools, including Visitation School’s main entrance, The Heart, and the Opus Hall STEM Center; and Saint Thomas Academy’s Vincent J. Flynn Hall. Academy alumnus Tim Murnane ’77 serves as Opus CEO.
“We were honored that Saint Thomas Academy and Visitation entrusted us with construction of their new aquatic facility. We’ve enjoyed partnering with both schools for more than a decade, helping to literally build their legacies and their futures. We hope the Michel Family Aquatic Center serves many new generations of student athletes,” said Scott Shifflett, vice president of construction with Opus.
In addition to being the training and competition home for the Cadets and the Blazers, the new aquatic center will serve local swim clubs and Catholic Athletic Association schools. During the school day, the pool will be used for curriculum-based initiatives.
