The San Leandro (Calif.) Unified School District has recently broken ground on a $67 million gymnasium complex, which will be one of the largest in the Bay Area when completed near the end of 2024.
In addition to competition and physical education space, the gym will also feature a weight room and updated locker rooms. As part of the enhancements to San Leandro High School, the school plans to add a new southern entrance and updated parking.
Funding will be largely provided thanks to funds from Measure N, a nearly $200-million improvement bond that was passed by voters in the spring of 2020 to facilitate renovation and new construction throughout the SLUSD.
The new complex was designed by PBK Architects. Overaa Construction is working in partnership with construction manager RGM Kramer Inc. on the project. — School Construction News
St. Thomas More Catholic High School in Lafayette, La., hosted a groundbreaking in early February for the new Our Lady of Lourdes Cougar Athletic Center.
School officials said the 22,000-square-foot athletic facility will impact every sport, athlete and student at the school.
It will include a weight room, activity room, locker rooms, dressing areas, restrooms with showers, a training room, storage and other equipment space and coaches offices. — KLFY-TV
The Esko (Minn.) School Board approved a layout for the new fitness center at its Feb. 13 meeting.
Superintendent Aaron Fischer told the Cloquet Pine Journal the board made minor changes to the configuration. The most significant change was moving the reception desk by the door, which will make it easier to install utilities and allow for better supervision of the workout space.
The fitness center will be added to the south side of the school building and will share a wall with the varsity gym.
The design has the exam rooms on the eastern side of the fitness center, along with restrooms, allowing for the western side to be used for the gym equipment.
The entrance to the fitness center will be from the existing access point on the south side of the building. Students and staff will also be able to enter the fitness center through the school.
One of the reasons for the location is to move the current fitness center from the middle of the school, so community members do not need to go through the school to get to it.
The latest timeline for the project has officials seeking construction bids in March, with the plan to break ground in the summer.
The district approved a lease levy to fund the project last year that amounts to $2.05 million. The figure includes the total cost of planning, design and construction for the project. Fischer said the estimated cost of construction is around $1.5 million. — The Cloquet Pine Journal
Fort Worth (Texas) Country Day School had a ribbon-cutting and dedication ceremony in January celebrating the completion of a $3.5 million overhaul of its track and turf fields that FWCD officials call one of the most significant athletics improvement projects in the college prep school’s 59-year history.
The project involved excavating the field hockey field, the multi-sport field (Howard Family Field) at Rosacker Stadium and its track (Barrett Havran Track), and superseding them with international-caliber surfaces and technologies.
“Our track and turf fields improvement project is truly game-changing for FWCD athletics,” said Head of School Eric Lombardi. “No more rainouts because of saturated fields, no more worries about wear-and-tear during practices or competition. We’ll have the ability to host international-caliber athletic events, all while showcasing our 104-acre campus.
“We’ll be able to use these facilities for summer camp programs, lower school enrichment programs, and PE students,” athletic director Leigh Block said. “It provides a safe place for these kids to practice and play, and it ensures that we’ll never have to cancel a practice or game because of poor field conditions.”
The work was performed by Fort Worth-based Paragon Sports Constructors.
The project began in June 2022 when the school held a groundbreaking ceremony. — Fort Worth Business Press
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