Duane Wolgamott, Director of Facilities and Support Services for the Gonzales Unified School District, showed-off the new City/School joint-use gym, in back of Fairview Middle School and near Fifth Street, that will open soon.

The building is finished, with just a few more minor tweaking, described by Wolgamott, as the punch list. “That is the final walk through where we look at everything to be certain everything we contracted for is done,” Wolgamott said.

That walk-through is planned for July 26. The last bit of business will be the landscaping, for which the school district is responsible.

“We will start training soon to use the sound system, scoreboard, fire emergency and security system,” Wolgamott said.

During the walk-through on Friday, workmen were putting final touches to the boy’s locker room, and other men were preparing to put padding on the gym walls.

The hardwood floors were up to a glowing shine, as they were just prepared with sealer and dry to walk on. Basketball hoops are up with three courts—two courts to be used at one time—and three volleyball courts, with two courts used at one time, as well.

Bleachers are also in place.

A skylight sheds filtered light, called structural lighting. There are acoustical panels on the walls and the ceiling is also acoustical.

“Noise from crowds and games will be filtered because of the acoustic detail on the walls and ceilings,” said Wolgamott.

Walking into the gym, lights turn on through a motion detector. “This is energy saving,” Wolgamott said.

Temperature was comfortable with controlled with air conditioning.

Both the City and the school district have rooms just off the courts for storage or for any desired use. There is a system on the wall in the district storeroom that allows use for the hearing-impaired audience members.

The green and off-white colors were chosen by the Fairview staff and is seen on tile arrangements throughout the building, in the girl's, boy's and staff locker rooms, bathrooms and showers. Green is the color on the scoreboard and elsewhere.



For the complete article see the 07-21-2010 issue.

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