NewsUpper SchoolStudent LifePre-K to 8Service
Construction on Huffman Athletic Center Progresses Smoothly
Aug 1, 2000 8:00 AM
By Stefan Eady - Faculty
Construction on the A. J. Huffman Memorial Athletic Center has advanced well within the projected timetable. Anyone wishing to view its progress can access the construction camera from Darlington’s new web site address at https://www.darlingtonschool.org. The camera produces a live video feed, allowing visitors to view the work in real time. If the work and development continues as scheduled, the 100,000 square foot building project will be completed late in the summer of 2001.
“The work has progressed very well. We’re right on schedule,” Pat Arrington ’79, senior project manager for the new facility, said. “So far, it’s just been site work, but there have been no difficulties or areas of concern.”
“At first, we thought there might be a problem with soil conditions. We worried about there being wet soil, but that never became a problem. The drought actually helped us out in that respect.”
“No aspect of the facility will be available for student use until the project is completed,” Arrington said. “It’s not being done in phases.”
This may present some difficulties for students in the upcoming school year. The pool and lockers housed in the old Activities Building have been completely demolished. Portable changing rooms are being installed for students between the tennis courts and the “Tiger Pit,” and shower facilities will be added at the rear of the Tiger Pit.
Day student parking will remain largely unaffected, with only the area around the Activities Building rendered unusable. “The gravel lot is messy right now, but it will be cleaned up in time for the school year to begin,” Vice President for Finance Bob Rogers explained. “However, students will not be able to walk to school beside the Activities Building. They will have to cross Darlington Drive to get to the main buildings from the gravel lot.”
Just as the raising of funds has been a community endeavor, tolerating these temporary inconveniences will make the construction of the incredible athletic facility a reality. The $16.7 million project has been made feasible by donations to the Campaign for Darlington.
“The work has progressed very well. We’re right on schedule,” Pat Arrington ’79, senior project manager for the new facility, said. “So far, it’s just been site work, but there have been no difficulties or areas of concern.”
“At first, we thought there might be a problem with soil conditions. We worried about there being wet soil, but that never became a problem. The drought actually helped us out in that respect.”
“No aspect of the facility will be available for student use until the project is completed,” Arrington said. “It’s not being done in phases.”
This may present some difficulties for students in the upcoming school year. The pool and lockers housed in the old Activities Building have been completely demolished. Portable changing rooms are being installed for students between the tennis courts and the “Tiger Pit,” and shower facilities will be added at the rear of the Tiger Pit.
Day student parking will remain largely unaffected, with only the area around the Activities Building rendered unusable. “The gravel lot is messy right now, but it will be cleaned up in time for the school year to begin,” Vice President for Finance Bob Rogers explained. “However, students will not be able to walk to school beside the Activities Building. They will have to cross Darlington Drive to get to the main buildings from the gravel lot.”
Just as the raising of funds has been a community endeavor, tolerating these temporary inconveniences will make the construction of the incredible athletic facility a reality. The $16.7 million project has been made feasible by donations to the Campaign for Darlington.
