By: Deborah Johnson Wood
West Catholic High School broke ground in April on a 35,000-square-foot performance gymnasium that will become the second recerational facility in Grand Rapids to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Certification. The Grand Rapids Catholic Secondary Schools is in the final stages of an $8 million capital campaign to fund the project, as well as a new gymnasium for Catholic Central.
LEED features such as, low VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) paints, caulks, adhesives, and carpets, and advanced electrical and mechanical systems are key to making the Catholic Secondary Schools' vision of a sustainable facility a reality.
"We're installing over $60,000 of photovoltaic lenses for the gym’s energy systems," said Jason Wheeler, public relations coordinator for Rockford Construction, the company building the gym. "We’re also creating a state-of-the art weight room, a multi-purpose athletic facility within the gym for wrestling and competitive cheerleading, and new boys and girls locker rooms."
The facility will be a performance gym for home games, tournaments, and conference playoffs. It will be outfitted with a high-tech scoreboard, an announcers' stand, and extra space around the court perimeter to accommodate spectator foot traffic and team benches.
Source: Jason Wheeler, Rockford Construction
Deborah Johnson Wood is Development News Editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at [email protected].
Enjoy this story?
Sign up for free solutions-based reporting in your inbox each week.