The Bolles School has announced plans to build the Dream Finders Homes Athletic Performance Center on the San Jose Campus. A $6 million donation from Patrick Zalupski, founder and CEO of Dream Finders Homes, serves as the lead gift for this exciting new project.
Bolles first connected with Zalupski and his company last year. Since then, the partnership has continued to grow as both sides share a strong commitment to supporting student-athletes. While the school has not yet completed its fundraising campaign, enough progress has been made to move the idea from concept to reality. Construction is expected to begin in 2026 once the school reaches its $12 million fundraising goal.
“This gift is a game-changer,” said Bolles Athletic Director Rock Pillsbury. “It allows us to provide our students with the very best tools, knowledge and environment to thrive in the classrooms, on the fields, courts and pools.”
The football coaches took part in organizing the project. The training staff worked alongside them to prepare the necessary plans. The athletic department also supported and oversaw the planning process and reached out to the donors.
The new facility will be built next to the track on the away side of the football field, taking the place of the current pole vault and high jump area. Bolles is already planning a new space for those athletes so they can continue their training without disruption; however, specific plans have not been announced.
The Athletic Performance Center will include state-of-the-art weight equipment, a hydrotherapy room, a training and recovery area, a covered 40-yard outdoor turf practice field, and a nutrition zone designed to help students reach their full potential. In addition to the 12,000 square foot facility, the practice field located behind the away side of the stadium will also be covered.
Inside the hydrotherapy room, there will be hot and cold plunges for recovery and injury prevention. The nutrition zone will provide Muscle Milk protein drinks and other options so Bolles athletes can get proper nutrition after their workouts. There will be new dumbbells since the ones in the current weight room are broken, and all new weight racks, freeweights, and machines. These additions will allow students to train smarter, recover faster, and maintain their health throughout demanding seasons.
Athletic Director Rock Pillsbury said the new facility will benefit every sport at Bolles. “Not only will our students be faster and stronger, but they will also have fewer injuries,” he said. The training and recovery rooms will use advanced sports science technology to enhance performance and overall well-being.
Bolles takes pride in its tradition of excellence in the arts, athletics, and academics, and this project supports all three areas by encouraging balance, discipline, and growth. It is part of a larger series of campus improvements designed to strengthen the entire Bolles community.
In addition to the performance center, Bolles also plans to expand and upgrade several other athletic areas. “We are also building the Hunt soccer locker rooms, updating the girls’ softball facility, adding a golf monitoring system, baseball locker rooms and coaches’ offices, and updating and expanding the swimming dryland room and coaches offices,” Pillsbury said. All of these projects are set to begin within the next year.
Pillsbury also believes that this new facility can attract athletic talent to our school. “To have a great weight room in addition to our fantastic coaches and teachers can only help attract new students.” Bolles is not only looking to improve their own athletes, they are also looking to draw in new talent from other places.
The Athletic Performance Center marks an exciting step forward for Bolles, providing athletes with advanced tools to shape an even brighter future for the entire Bolles Athletic Program.
