‘Fieldhouse’ to be constructed to add to gym space

When Measure E construction ends in a few years, sports teams and groups like winterguard will no longer have to compete for practice time in the Large and Small Gyms. Instead, they will be able to make use of  a third gym, to be called the Fieldhouse.

The location for the building is not finalized, but one idea is to put it near the front parking lot and the tennis courts. It will be similar in size to  the current Small Gym, principal Paul Robinson said.

The Fieldhouse’s name helps define it as an alternative practice area.

One reason the location near the tennis courts makes sense, Robinson said, is that it is the only place where the school can fit the 70-foot by 100-foot building.

According to Robinson, the core of the current conflict lies in the overlap of activities that require gym space at the same time. The resulting crowded gym schedule leaves some sports practicing long after school and other groups not getting near the time in a gym that they would like.

“At this time in the spring, we have basketball completing its season just as badminton and volleyball begin theirs,” Robinson said. “You then throw in winterguard’s competitive season beginning along with dance team, and space becomes very difficult.”

However, with other Measure E projects like the new music building in progress,  construction for the new gym is far from beginning, but could possibly be June of 2017, he said.

It was one of the original projects that parents, students and teachers asked for.

Though nothing is finalized, Robinson estimated the cost of the facility to be about $2.5 million.

Winterguard member Austin Shi agreed that another gym facility is much needed on campus.

“We have rehearsed more times in the library and other places than we have in our own gym,” Shi said.

Shi also expressed some complaints that scheduling treats winterguard and other non-sport activities with far lower priority.

“Personally I don't have any hard feelings toward sports. They do an awesome job,” Shi said. “It's just how facilities work out and how it's rather one sided at times.”