Scholars, Athletes, and Leaders Under One Roof

The newly dedicated Davis Center brings athletics, academics, and student life together in a space unlike anything Malvern Prep has offered before

Malvern Preparatory School formally dedicated its new Student Life Center, the Davis Center, on September 25, 2026. The Davis Center was made possible by a transformational $5 million gift from Mr. and Mrs. Jim Davis '78, one of the most significant single contributions in the School's history. The building is the final capital project to be built and opened as part of the Malvern. Forever. comprehensive campaign that launched in the fall of 2024.

Leading up to the comprehensive campaign, a campus master planning committee identified three areas from a facilities perspective that were needed on campus; a dedicated Middle School space, which opened in fall 2023, made possible by the generosity of the Riley Family P'21'26; a Counseling & Student Support Center, which opened in 2024, with gratitude to Mr. Vic Maggitti P'02 GP'13'15'17 TE, and finally, the Davis Center, a facility unlike anything Malvern Prep has offered before.

“I want to thank our philanthropic partners. None of this happens without people who believe deeply enough in Malvern’s mission to invest in its future. We are profoundly grateful to the families and foundations who made this building possible,” shared Head of School, Dr. Patrick Sillup.

The Davis Center is a true hub where athletics, academics, and student life intersect under one roof. The building houses state-of-the-art athletic locker rooms, dedicated academic space for data analytics, a teaching kitchen built for hands-on learning, and flexible areas designed to bring students, alumni, and the wider Malvern Prep Community together. The building reflects an idea central to the School’s mission: that developing well-rounded young men means giving them room to grow as scholars, athletes, and leaders in the same space, not in separate silos.

“The Davis Center will not only be a place where boys learn and compete, but just as importantly, it will be a place for boys to gather, build relationships, discover their gifts, and grow into the young men they are called to become,” said Sillup.

"It will be transformative for our students, providing them with spaces that inspire excellence, foster collaboration, and support their growth as scholars, athletes, and leaders. This gift is not just an investment in facilities — it's an investment in the future of every young man who walks through our doors. The Davis family's generosity will impact generations of Malvern students," Sillup continued.

Leading to the entrance of the Davis Center is Our Lady of Victory Plaza, which features a beautiful statue given by the Frohner Family P’25. As many student-athletes will recall, Fr. Flynn's final team prayer would end with a petition: “Our Lady of Victory, Pray for Us.” These words were the rallying cry heard by generations of Friars before competition.

Our Lady of Victory Plaza was named to honor Fr. Flynn and ensure his legacy remains a special part of Malvern Prep Athletics. “I can’t help but think of Fr. Flynn with a big smile on his face because this area is dedicated to him,” said Rev. Donald Reilly, O.S.A., D.Min. The Malvern Prep Community is grateful to the Petrizzo family, who funded the building of the grotto.

The Davis Center has already become a central gathering place for the Malvern community—a space where a locker room, a classroom, and a kitchen sit within steps of one another, and where students move fluidly between the roles the School asks them to hold: athlete, scholar, leader, friend.

More information, including construction details and a full project timeline, is available on Malvern's capital campaign page.

Click here to view event photos