Bishop Seabury art instructor Laura Torres-Porter, center, gives pointers to her ninth-grade art class during a drawing exercise Thursday. Bishop Seabury will soon build a new arts building. At far left is Jessica Babcock; at right is Mei Butler.

Don Schawang, the new headmaster of Bishop Seabury Academy, stands near a clubhouse that will be razed within the month to make way for a new arts building. The academy has been using the clubhouse for storage and offices.

By next spring, Bishop Seabury Academy’s arts department won’t be as crunched for space.

“We’re trying to build the sort of facilities that would meet the ambitions of the students and give them more space,” said Don Schawang, who was named the academy’s headmaster in July.

During the next month, demolition crews will tear down an old clubhouse next to the school, 4120 Clinton Parkway. In the spring, a new building will take its place to house classrooms for theater, art and language arts classes.

Four years ago, the academy moved from rural Lawrence into the former Alvamar tennis center, which is the school’s main building.

The academy has used the old clubhouse next door for storage and office space.

The academy’s trustees have decided it is time to have it replaced.

“It’s never been very aesthetically pleasing, so we’re very excited to rip it down,” Schawang said.

A new building is the major project of a $1.5 million capital campaign that will help make other improvements on the school’s grounds. Trustees and academy leaders hope to have the new building ready by spring break.

“I’m just excited about the addition and having added display space,” said Laura Torres-Porter, the academy’s third-year visual arts teacher.

She said having a new and larger classroom for art would allow the school to spread out when teaching drawing, painting, ceramics and jewelry.

Schawang also said a theater classroom would give drama students space to rehearse because they currently share a stage in the gymnasium. Seabury has about 120 students now, and administrators hope to raise the number eventually to 180 students.