The newly renovated Huntington High School gym is reopening on Monday after a long wait. The new sports floor consists of gorgeous Canadian maple and with a new design and color scheme.
About 15 workers toiled for most of Saturday, cleaning the bleachers, wall padding, floor and basketball backboards and installing black base molding and silver door saddles. The final base moldings will be put in place on Monday night.
The project was overseen by Huntington UFSD Lead Operations Manager George Austin, who monitored every detail from start to finish. “We wanted to do something special for the kids and community and give them a great facility with a sharp, fresh look,” he said. “We hope they enjoy it.”
Over the past eight months the gym has been completely repainted. New LED lighting has been installed. Team championship banners listing every title ever won by every Huntington varsity team have been affixed to the north and south walls of the gym. Large banners have also been installed over each set of bleachers on the east and west sides of the gym.
A state of the art sound system has been delivered and will be installed soon. The gym lobby, hallway area and showcases have all been renovated or completely replaced, including the ceiling and lighting. Six high hat lights will be installed soon. New outside doors have been installed and outdoor light fixtures have been replaced. A new blue rug embroidered with Huntington Blue Devils has been recessed into the floor inside the front doors of the lobby.
The Blue Devils are hopeful that the varsity girls’ volleyball team’s senior day can be held in the newly reopened gym on Friday of this week. Many other events will follow.
A flood last January required the original gym floor to be removed and replaced. It was a long process that took many months. Physical education classes were relocated elsewhere in the building and boys’ basketball played its games at Walt Whitman with the girls’ basketball teams using Harborfields and John H. Glenn for the remainder of their schedules.
After a new floor had been installed and classes resumed in the facility, issues with the floor arose requiring that it, too, be replaced.
RENU Milburn Flooring installed the new sports floor, which includes a design and materials meant to enhance play. An updated line color scheme was chosen with other newly designed elements.
For example, rather than having the school name and nickname located on the court end lines, the name HUNTINGTON is spelled out in capital letters on the sideline facing each set of bleachers. The phrase Blue Devils is also written in script on the playing court along each sideline, again facing that side’s set of bleachers.
The previous grey painted floor that comprised the two-point basketball shooting area on either side of the court has been replaced with a lightly stained floor that allows the grains of maple wood to be visible. It is stunningly attractive and modern. A large blue H that is outlined in off-white is at center court. It contains the jump ball circle and lines.
The new floor also includes the lines for eight badminton courts that will be used by the new Blue Devil varsity boys’ and girls’ badminton teams that will debut in the spring. The lines are painted a light tan color that blend in with the rest of the floor and lines. There are four badminton courts on either side of the gym.
Another highlight includes the two side courts, each featuring a pair of baskets. The free throw shooting keys and lines are painted a light grey, which enhances the overall look of the floor and gym. The side courts also include the lines for volleyball courts.
Additional improvements that will be rolled out at some point include new wall padding, new curtains that can be used to section off the gym into three separate teaching stations and additional electrical outlets throughout the area.
The gym area projects have included creation of a new fitness room, which is still evolving. It has been outfitted with pieces of equipment with more to follow. Air conditioning units and additional outlets for the treadmills will be installed soon. Nearly 50 new large lockers have been installed in a long hallway within the area, which contains spectacular looking flooring. A new ceiling and lighting has been installed throughout the area. A team locker room is about to be completely renovated and should be available for the winter season. A set of closets are even being renovated and new doors have been installed throughout the area.
In recent weeks two additional outdoor basketball courts adjacent to the gym have been installed along with an outdoor volleyball court. The courts side alongside two other basketball courts that were installed within the past year. The entire area was paved. A new concrete staircase with railings that allows for access to the six tennis courts was also installed. It was previously necessary to climb up the side of a hill. New sidewalks have been installed in front of and behind the gym.
The area beneath the gym has also been renovated with new flooring, ceilings, doors, lighting and bathrooms. New lockers for two team locker rooms are expected to arrive this month. The entire area has been painted as well.
“The gym and the areas around it are a showcase and focal point for the entire community,” Mr. Austin said. “We wanted to give Huntington something that everyone can be proud of.”
