Renovations to the Old Pierce County High School Gym are expected to be completed early next month.
School Facilities Director Harbin Farr gave school board members that update at their regular monthly work session last Thursday morning.
“Progress is moving along well and we are on schedule for an April completion date, possibly before spring break (April 7-11),” Farr said. “The good news is it is on time and under budget.”
Farr said a recent fire on the roof of the building will not delay the completion of the renovations there.
“The fire only affected about a 10’ by 16’ area on the roof and that was removed and replaced by the next day,” Farr said.
School superintendent Dara Bennett and Board Chairman Duward Boatright said they know basketball fans are looking forward to the completion of the renovations.
PCHS basketball games will return to the old facility next season.
Farr has given a general update on the progress of the construction in recent months noting change orders with flooring, duct work and roofing. All of the changes were made to correct issues that were not anticipated in the original estimate.
Farr said painting on the interior of the gym is currently underway.
The exterior walls of the renovated gym have been painted to match the brick colors of the new high school.
School board members said at previous meetings they are pleased with how it looks.
“I had someone tell me they thought they were laying brick at the renovation site. I told them it was painted,” said Board Chairman Duward Boatright.
Demolition and renovation at the old Pierce County High School has been underway since early June of 2024.
R. H. Tyson Construction of Blackshear is doing both the demoli-tion and renovation work on both phases of the project. R.H. Tyson Construction bid $4.918 million for the project.
Under the renovation project, the gym will be saved for use as a practice facility for basketball, football, wrestling, cheerleading and other programs. The facility is also being used by other groups including the 4-H BB teams. The front classroom there will be the site of Gateway, the high school’s alternative school. Gateway is currently housed in mobile units behind the old high school, far removed and hidden from view of the new school.
Under the save-demolish project, the bulk of the 44-year-old high school building, including the academic, Career, Technical and Agricultural Education (CTAE) wings, band room, cafeteria and auditorium was torn down last summer.
The space the old school sat on has been converted to and maintained as a grassy area used for parking.
