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Renovated Canfield gym energizes school spirit
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A NEW NOTION: Canfield Local Schools Superintendent Dante Zambrini, left, assists high school athletic director Greg Cooper with a removable first step to the school gymnasium’s new bleachers. The school district completed a renovation project, which cost about $300,000, and replaced the gym floor as well as the bleachers.
The renovation project cost about $300,000 and was completed last month.
By Jon Moffett
CANFIELD — Canfield High School students opened the school year with a newly renovated gymnasium and a reinvigorated sense of school pride.
Because of the new floor, bleachers and coats of paint, some students feel a new sense of home when they step into their gym.
“We had our first pep assembly about two or three weeks ago, and it was pretty neat to come in here and see all the athletes running around, the cardinal [mascot] and Canfield everywhere,” said Sam Orr, a senior. “It makes the gym more appealing.”
Though the renovations certainly helped the gym cosmetically, it was necessity that drove the project.
Superintendent Dante Zambrini said the old floor had been in use for about 30 years and had significant damage because of wear and water. He said areas of the floor had warped because of moisture trapped beneath the boards, creating a safety hazard. The school’s bleachers, too, needed to be replaced.
So the school district earmarked $50,000 each year since 2003 in a continuous improvement fund to amass $300,000 for the project, which came in under budget at $278,354.
In addition to replacing the floor – a 12,114-square-foot surface – the renovations also included replacing the bleachers. The new stow-away bleachers are motorized and seat about 1,350. Though the gym lost about 400 seats with the new bleachers, CHS Athletic Director Greg Cooper said they are ADA-compliant.
The new seats also offer added comfort to the Cardinal faithful. About 275 seats on the home side have spring-loaded backs that pop up when the bleachers are extended.
The school also took added precautions to avoid new instances of floor problems associated with moisture.
Underneath the home bleachers are fans that continuously blow air underneath the floorboards, which are raised slightly from the concrete base. The air circulates and removes any moisture, which lessens the possibility of rot or warping.
Students were generally impressed with the work.
Joe Hoelzel, 17 and a senior basketball player, said he could tell the difference as soon as he stepped on the court.
“It’s a lot better,” he said. “The floor makes a really big difference, and the bleachers look nice.”
Freshman Rachel Riccardo, 14, said the volleyball team played the first game on the floor last month and noticed an improvement right away.
“It was really nice, and we were all really excited to play on the new floor,” she said. “And it’s exciting to have this new gym floor for all four years.”
jmoffett@vindy.com