As construction of the Paul Loggan Fieldhouse begins its final stages, the NC community anticipates its opening in the near future.
The state-of-the-art facilities greatly benefit NC athletics. There are four courts, a full-sized indoor track and a pole vault and long jump area.
The fieldhouse is not yet completed, but the plans are in place and the layout is there. All that is left to do is put the finishing touches on the year-long project, and it will open next year.
“The fieldhouse will be functional for student use second semester, and the facilities will be the nicest in central Indiana,” Assistant Principal Nick Brewer said.
The fieldhouse utilizes all its space to include as many sports as possible.
“[The volleyball nets and basketball hoops] will retract from the ceiling, and there will be a full-sized indoor track on the outside of the four courts,” Brewer said.
Students can anticipate the opening of the fieldhouse soon, but not only for athletics.
Soon after its opening, the fieldhouse will be used as an entrance for student drivers and car riders, and will connect directly to the school.
“You will be able to get from the fieldhouse to the rest of the building through N hall,” Brewer said, “Students will come in through the south of the fieldhouse after the closure of door 16 during second semester.”
The door 16 closure is part of the construction plans for the performing arts wing. The purpose of the fieldhouse is for student drivers is to have a way to enter school other than walking all the way around the building.
The new fieldhouse will also bring many much-needed upgrades to the athletic department’s amenities.
“There is a hallway with restrooms for fans, a brand new fitness area and a couple of athletic offices,” construction foreman Greg Campbell said.
The training rooms will be moved to the fieldhouse to optimize efficiency for the athletic training staff.
“The trainers have a room that is a more permanent space, so it isn’t in the way of performing arts and is much closer to the athletic facilities,” Brewer said.
The fieldhouse entrance will make fan entry to sporting events in the other gyms much easier.
“[The fieldhouse] also connects to the big gym and the south gym for much easier access,” Campbell said.
There will be two entrances to the fieldhouse. One for visitors, which is the direct entrance through the fieldhouse, and another for the NC community where families will have to walk through the school to the fieldhouse.
“The two separate entrances and concession stands will make it so there is no need for students from both teams to be forced to interact,” Brewer said.
The two-entrance method will make it easier to prevent altercations at sporting events.
The new fieldhouse also helps push Washington Township’s green initiatives.
“[The fieldhouse] has all LED lighting, so it saves the district power and energy and is green,” Brewer said.
As the finishing touches are put on the fieldhouse, tributes will be paid to past successful teams and former Athletic Director Paul Loggan.
“We will be going and refilling trophy cases and will create memorial walls. We will also have a tribute to [Paul] Loggan,” Brewer said.
The completion of the fieldhouse will wrap up a project that required a massive construction crew.
“There are 19 prime contractors and about 30 different companies contributing,” Campbell said.
The large crew enabled the fieldhouse to be completed relatively quickly, and will hopefully be open in January.
