Aquinas Institute, school in Rochester, New York state, USA
The Aquinas Institute is a school building in Rochester listed on the National Register of Historic Places and featuring over a century of history. The main structure displays Italian Renaissance architecture with solid brick walls and classic design details, complemented by modern additions including updated science laboratories, a large gymnasium, and a field house.
The school was founded in 1902 and began as a business school before transforming into a boys-only institution called Rochester Catholic High School in 1913. After decades serving only male students, it returned to coeducation in 1982 and has since served students from grades 6 through 12.
The school is named after Saint Thomas Aquinas, a religious scholar whose name reflects the institution's long connection to faith and learning. The community here is shaped by Basilian traditions, with school colors of maroon and white and a mascot called Li'l Irish that represent local pride.
The school is located on Dewey Avenue and occupies about 13 acres of land with a mix of historic and modern buildings that are easy to navigate. Class sizes average around 25 students, and the school offers various facilities including science laboratories, a gymnasium, and a sports complex for different activities.
The school's sports complex, which opened in 2005, replaced an older football field that was demolished in 1985. Over the years this place has produced several notable figures, including hockey player Brian Gionta and football players Kevin McMahan and Jamir Jones, as well as Robert Duffy, who later became mayor of Rochester and lieutenant governor of New York.
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