As students pass by the Falcon Nest during lunch, they often encounter a lively scene: crowds gathered around the ping pong table, cheering passionately for the players while the sharp sounds of paddles hitting balls echo in the space. The ping pong table has been a popular addition to the Falcon Nest, though it is only one among several changes that occurred in the space this summer.
The left block space now features power outlets, LED lights and a skylight. Another section of the Falcon Nest is being used for storage.
This year, assistant principal Matt Torrens is managing the next set of projects for improving the Nest. His first priority is a mural featuring 87 tiles, hand-painted by the Class of 2020 during their 2022 reunion. The mural will be displayed on the wall facing the quad.
‘We were supposed to have [the independent contractor] here in August, but because of a family emergency, [the mural] got pushed back to September,” Torrens said.
The mural will showcase a plaque dedicated to the donors that funded the Nest: the Class of 2020, PTSO of 2023 and 2024, the Indian Cultural Awareness Club of 2023 and the ASB Class of 2024.
After the mural’s completion, there will be structural issues to address, as the left block still has electrical and water problems that must be fixed. Torrens also stated that an exposed drain hole in a wall on the left block causes collected rainwater to spill out, meaning the pipe will have to be redirected.
Additionally, the floor still needs to be coated in epoxy, a decision made by the maintenance crew as the most practical floor coating. Heavy outdoor furniture or beanbags will then be added depending on how much funding remains after these developments.
Another issue has been dozens of broken ping pong balls. Torrens is entertaining the idea of a ball dispenser that will charge students 25 cents for each ball, incentivizing taking better care of them. Still, whether the ping pong table will stay in the space indefinitely is a point of contention — he said that some teachers find the noise from it to be a disruption during class time.
Another upcoming project is that the locker space to the right of the Student Center will be demolished later this year and converted into either a storage space or an extension of the current Falcon Nest. Because the lockers were secured to the floor with concrete, the demolition of the left block cost about $8,000. However, the right block demolition will only cost around $1,000, as the contractor offered a price reduction after demolishing the left block.
Torrens said the space has been planned as an “extension of the quad” rather than a storage room. This distinction will speed up the approval and construction process
As the construction process continues into the school year, he hopes that the final result will aid in enriching students’ campus experience.
“[It’s not just a] a new place to hang out,” Torrens said. “It also has an overall impact that says we care about kids.”
