WESTLOCK – Anticipation is building amongst students and staff at Busby School as the final steps of construction for the new, $2 million gym are underway.
Crews have been busy building the gym over the past several months, but delays in the project due to supply chain issues and material availability pushed back the completion date by about six to eight weeks. The new gym is 485-square metres, more than double the old space and includes several new features such as hardwood floors, which crews began installing at the end of September, a digital scoreboard, a divider curtain and possibly a portable stage.
“They will hand over the keys back to us on Monday, Oct. 24,” said Busby School principal Angie Bachand. “Right now, they’re focusing on sodding and re-sodding the outside of the building (and) they’re busy doing all the landscaping reclamation.
“It’s been a perfect fall to build a new gym because our kids have been outside for gym class because we don’t have a large space,” explained Bachand. “The kids are excited … they’re trying to constantly steal peaks when the workmen come out of the doors. We’re excited to be able to meet indoors as a full school because we can’t do that currently.”
Construction of the new gym began earlier this spring with the concrete walls constructed in mid-March and the 22 concrete panel roofs installed over several days in early April. The original 188-square meter gym was built in 1986 as an addition to the school, which was built in 1947.
That old gym has now been transformed into a music classroom with two single-stall washrooms, an extra storage room and a new coat rack room for Grade 5/6 students, noted Bachand. The new music room was opened Oct. 3 and is now in use by students.
Bachand said the school plans to hold a grand opening event with a barbecue to celebrate the new gym, but a time and date are yet to be confirmed and may not be held until the spring 2023.
“When you look at the whole plan, this time last year they were just breaking ground so the fact that it’s only taken them a year is pretty phenomenal considering the huge structure we have outside,” she said.
In addition to the new gym, the outside of the school is also getting a new look this fall as well.
“The entire school itself, the gym and the remaining building are getting a whole new façade — it’ll look entirely new, and it will make it all look like one building,” said Bachand noting the work on the façade is expected to continue throughout the winter until completed.
