New Athletics Complex to Replace Two Historic Stillwater High Gymnasiums

The Stillwater Board of Education unanimously approved schematic designs Tuesday night for a new high school athletics complex that will replace two historic gymnasiums and transform the campus landscape.

The board voted 5-0 to advance the Athletics Phase 1 project into the design development phase, clearing the way for construction to begin next summer on the 40,600-square-foot multi-purpose facility funded through the 2023 bond.

The project requires demolishing the West Gym, a metal prefab building housing a smaller gymnasium and locker rooms, and the City Gym, the campus's oldest athletic structure built in 1959. The City Gym has been closed since August due to structural concerns in the laminated timber support beams.

The 1959 City Gym showcases its distinctive curved roof design created with glued laminated timber beams. The Stillwater Board of Education voted to demolish the historic round top gymnasium to construct a modern 40,600-square-foot athletics complex. – Photos taken May 2024 by Chris Peters

"We understand internally what West Gyms means within the district," assistant superintendent of operations, Bo Gamble said, noting the emotional significance of removing the historic facilities.

Virtual Academy Building Gets Repurposed

To accommodate athletes displaced during construction, the district will temporarily convert the Pioneer Virtual Academy building – formerly the Wondertorium – into locker room spaces and an auxiliary wrestling area.

"We have since incorporated virtual structure of services back into the sites," Gamble said.

Before the conversion, the board voted to declare the building's inventory surplus, opening the door to dispose or reuse educational equipment, displays and fixtures left from the building's days as a children's museum.

Board member Marshall Baker urged administrators to give district teachers first access to the materials before offering them to community organizations.

"I'm pretty adamant that our teachers should be given the chance to choose before we give it away," Baker said. "I just think of the amount of money teachers spend to make their classrooms a fun space, and if we could defer some of that cost for them by giving them first rights to that, I'd love for that to happen."

The inventory includes interactive displays, an educational dairy cow model, children's play equipment and educational materials.

"When I look at the cow and ag in the classroom and I think about all the green leaves and the roof, if I were a teacher, I would be beside myself to be able to go in and to take materials for my classroom," said Baker.

Superintendent Tyler Bridges agreed to open the surplus items to school sites first.

$22.5 Million Comprehensive Athletic Upgrade

Brian Thomas of 505 Architects presented the schematic designs, which have been refined through weekly meetings since May with coaches, staff and community input.

The project includes construction of a new artificial turf multi-use field measuring 120 yards by 75 yards, large enough to accommodate soccer, football and band activities. The field will allow the district to host regional track and field events, with proper distances for discus throws and other competitions the current facilities cannot support.

The new multi-purpose building will feature:

• A full-court basketball gymnasium with two three-quarter size practice courts
• Football locker room with 118 lockers
• 6,500-square-foot weight room with strength and conditioning areas
• Expanded physical therapy space (from two to six stations)
• Wrestling facility with room for future expansion
• Multi-use classroom and meeting spaces
• Pioneer Hall of Fame display area

The existing wrestling building will be renovated for soccer, track and field, and cross country teams. The current football field house will be converted into an indoor practice facility with four retractable batting nets for baseball and softball.

Thomas emphasized the design preserves opportunities for future expansion while respecting the architectural character of the south campus.

"We wanted to recognize that you do have an existing vocabulary in that south campus," Thomas said. "But we also wanted to pull us forward with the curved roof over the gym."

The curved roof design pays homage to the architectural elements of the old City Gym, connecting the past with the new facility. Thomas noted that some alumni who viewed the designs initially thought the old building was being preserved, which he saw as a successful blending of old and new.

Design Details and Features

The new gymnasium will feature translucent panels that allow diffused natural light without direct sunlight, creating an ideal playing environment. An exterior scoreboard will be mounted on the building to allow timekeeping for sports on the practice field.

The gymnasium floor will be real wood, matching the competitive court surface, allowing teams to practice on the same quality flooring they will compete on. All facilities will feature retractable goals and equipment consistent with the district's other venues.

Thomas emphasized that each team's locker room space will incorporate wall graphics and team branding that can be updated annually with vinyl prints, allowing cost-effective personalization.

"We've started to see some graphics in here and just really letting the space be what it is," Thomas said. "Utilitarian, but really feeling like it's a special space for each of the teams."

The wrestling facility will be constructed to ICC 500 standards, serving as a hardened tornado shelter for the campus. The weight room will include a covered outdoor space for gathering and training.

The $22.5 million project represents a significant investment in student-athlete facilities, addressing both functional needs and safety concerns while creating spaces that can host regional competitions and serve the community for decades to come.