Grandin Court Elementary School needed a gym, especially after absorbing students from now-closed Raleigh Court Elementary School earlier this year. In the past the cafeteria has also doubled as the physical education venue. But money is tight of course and the budgets have been shrinking in recent years.
So the Roanoke City School system came up with a novel approach: instead of building a typical bricks and mortar gym, a composite material skin that includes Teflon, stretched over a steel frame and set on a concrete slab, was erected instead.
Last week the ribbon was cut on the new $400,000 gym, which could be a prototype for other Roanoke elementary schools that also need a gymnasium. Grandin Court Elementary principal Terri Pritchard thanked all of those involved, who put their heads together to come up with a logical solution in tough economic times. “Together we … achieved our goal and fulfilled the need for having a gym,” said Pritchard.
“Finding the money to build a gym was no easy task,” added Pritchard, who praised assistant superintendent Curt Baker for looking “outside the box” in coming up with a solution. Before the ribbon was cut a steady stream of young students came to the podium to talk about the games they like to play in the cafeteria, including soccer and something called “shark,” evidently a form of tag. Now they can play those games in the new gym, which has an expected life span of 25 years minimum before the skin may have to be replaced.
The Roanoke office of Clark-Nexsen (architecture & engineering) worked with supplier Strong Structures and the city to make the Grandin Court Elementary gym a reality. The mechanical-electrical system and a storage bathroom area were added to the prefab design by Clark-Nexsen, according to Director of Architecture Lora J. Katz. “This facility cost about half of what a bricks and mortar gym would be,” said Katz.
The firm has done other projects for the city, including the new Patrick Henry High School culinary facility and a makeover of the old William Ruffner Middle School building to accommodate office space. After a month of site preparation and foundation work it took about a week to erect the structure. “It’s very quick to put up and inexpensive,” said Katz. Two layers of the composite skin surround a thick layer of insulation.
After the ribbon cutting, School Board chairman David Carson watched a video of the construction process put together by teachers. “[The school] needed a play area [and] with very light finances this is what they came up with, to allow us to build [for less money and in less time].” Carson can see where other elementary schools like Round Hill might benefit from a similar structure. “We’ve got to be creative. As we move forward maybe this is something we want to do.”
By Gene Marrano [email protected]