Wayne Grassl, facilities manager for the Lloydminster Public School Division, led a media tour Tuesday of the ongoing construction of the new Synergy Place gym and expansion at Lloydminster Comprehensive High School. The gym is expected to open on Feb. 1. Geoff Lee Meridian Source
It’s Synergy Place by the numbers.
The new Lloydminster Comprehensive High School (LCHS) gym will have two full-size basketball courts, three volleyball courts and eight courts for badminton.
The gym space is 12,800 sq ft. with an adjoining 1,500 sq. ft fitness area and bleachers to seat 400 spectators.
There is also a second-floor viewing area that spans the north wall of the gym and will be equipped with two large LED scoreboard screens.
These stats and facts came to light during a media tour of the new facility on Tuesday, led by Lloydminster Public Division (LPSD) facilities manager, Wayne Grassl.
“We’re hoping to have full occupancy by Feb. 1. Construction is around 90 per cent going by how much the spend has been. We’re definitely in the finishing stretch,” said Grassl.
“Almost every trade would be in the finishing stages right now doing things like putting receptacles in walls, putting ceiling tiles in and finishing painting.”
Matt Read, chief financial officer at LPSD, is looking at a grand opening in early March.
“We’ll obviously be in and using it first,” said Read. “When we get the minister (education) out, we want to show him the space is used and the funds we received are put to use.”
The new gym will support the LCHS Barons’ curricular and extra-curricular athletics and community rentals.
The gym is part of a $30 million addition and renovations at LCHS with public usage of the gym outside of school hours a big part of the plan.
“I know the Rustlers volleyball program is already planning some tournaments here. There will be more gym space and fitness space in the community,” said Read.
“That’s why we’ve had some partners contribute funds to this and the board put in money because we want to make it a community-use space.”
Synergy Credit Union purchased the naming rights for $500,000 and the City of Lloydminster contributed $250,000.
Groundbreaking took place in May 2021 on the full project.
“I think it’s a great addition to the high school,” said Read, noting LCHS was built in 1956.
“There’s a lot of unique stuff we can offer here, and adding this means we can add more services, more opportunities for kids.”
The addition and renovation will accommodate the inclusion of Grade 9 students starting next September with LPSD’s grade reconfiguration.
“We’re in the process of working on our reconfiguration right now. We’ll be in the 1,300-1,400 capacity here,” said Read.
He expects having a feature space like the gym will bring in high-end tournaments and potentially host provincial tournaments.
“I know the high school is super excited about it,” added Read.
“Every one of our kids eventually flows through LCHS at some point in time.”
As construction enters the finishing stages, Grassl says he knows there’s a louder buzz going on around LCHS now.
“Teachers are starting to get excited. The division and the office are looking forward to getting the full tour,” he said.
