MHS gym sees completion

The ten-year-long wait was pronounced over yesterday when school officials finally brought before the limelight the much-awaited completion of Marianas High School’s state-of-the-art gymnasium.

The unveiling of the $2.4 million facility was marked historical following a series of project blockades that hampered its timely fulfillment.

Patience paid off for majority of MHS students, faculty, staff, and the community as they witnessed in awe the result of years of construction and hard work that was accomplished through inter-agency collaboration. The project was a joint partnership between the Department of Public Works, the Public School System, Philippine Goods Inc. and Efrain F. Camacho Architects and Engineers.

“Finally, it’s done. They really outdid themselves this time,” said 18-year-old MHS student Hope Butterfield.

“It’s a miracle. It’s been ten years. And now it’s finally here. It’s way better than Ada gym,” added another student Sheryl Nocum, 13.

Board of Education Chair Anthony Pellegrino described CNMI’s brand new sports complex as equal or even better than any of such facilities in the region, carrying a complete line of athletic apparatuses.

“This is what a good gym would look like. This facility can host international basketball meets. The size of the court is similar to the NBA standard,” said the BOE official.

The structure can accommodate a crowd of approximately 2,000 all at the same time.

The 25,000 square feet multi-purpose fitness facility highlights a 12,960 square feet court area, a high school standard full basketball court with backstops, four half courts with retractable backstops, and two full volleyball courts with removable nets.

It includes three classrooms, three physical fitness workout areas, one weight lifting room, lockers rooms, and showers.

The gym’s exterior is also being eyed to accommodate designated areas for outdoor sports such as basketball, volleyball, racquetball, and track.

The facility’s construction management was administered by EFC, designed by Henry K. Pangelinan Associates.

Philippine Goods Construction, Inc. took care of the construction aspect of Public School System Capital Improvement project.

According to EFC, one of the unique characteristics of the facility is the no-seam resilient high impact floor believed to be easy on the knees.

The sports complex now boasts of an 800 square feet stage which may retract into a six-foot deep recess when not in use.

The fully air-conditioned facility is also in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.