Story by Sofia Alva
Staff Writer
Photo by Sarah Lee
Staff Photographer
The SPHS athletic facilities are near completion after being under construction since January 2020. After being delayed in March 2020 due to stay-at-home orders, work has resumed in order to complete the project during the fall semester.
Gym construction has been ongoing throughout the pandemic, but the completion date has been pushed back a few weeks from its original Aug. 31 deadline. According to SPHS Athletic Director Anthony Chan, shipping was delayed on a few items needed for the gym, but all items are now in the process of delivery or have been delivered.
The gym’s orange and black painted walls and alma mater mural will remain the same, although some aspects of the building such as the basketball hoops will be replaced. Additionally, new flooring in both the main and practice gyms are almost completely done.
A new field house was added during construction and furnishing of the field house is set to begin soon. The new structure includes a training room and a film room that teams, as well as the sports medicine class, can use. The field house will also act as an additional storage unit for sports equipment.
New bleachers for fans to watch tennis matches will also be installed, while the visitor stands will be replaced and secured to the ground. The ground around the tennis courts, baseball cages, and outdoor basketball courts has been leveled.
In order to ensure all aspects of construction are completed to the district’s standards, SPUSD administration, school site administration, and Chan have been inspecting the site multiple times a week. Construction will likely be finished by the mid-to-end of September.
“We are approaching the final stages and I know that SPUSD will be excited to reveal the entire project once complete,” Chan said.
