TIONS I
n 2007, the Joliet Township High School (JTHS) com- munity passed a $24 million referendum to construct state-of-the-art fi eldhouses at the Joliet Central and West high schools. This was accomplished without increasing the tax rate. The referendum allowed the district to reinstate two separate athletic programs—the Joliet Central Steel- men and the Joliet West Tigers—which were combined in 1993 due to budget constraints.
Our students deserve top-notch facilities, and this is
what our district provides. While designing and construct- ing the fi eldhouses, JTHS addressed the varying needs of each campus, which resulted in facilities unique in design and functionality while maintaining common elements. Athletic directors, school board members, administrators,
booster parents and architects worked together to include common elements in the fi eldhouses. That includes lockers, portable bleachers, storage, six-lane Mondo tracks and three multi-purpose basketball courts, which double as 12 learning stations that can be used for volleyball and badminton.
A Look Inside Multi-use capabilities were important—the facilities
were designed so that curtains can be drawn, separating the stations and creating individualized space for physical edu- cation classes and athletic practices. The versatility of the space has resulted in much use. On any given day, students are pole vaulting, hitting the batting cages, playing basket- ball, volleyball, soccer and badminton, all while students run the track on the perimeter. The facilities are open to the community, and the number of people participating in the Morning Walker Program has increased signifi cantly. The unique nature of each school’s facility was exam- ined during the planning phases. The facilities were de- signed with the needs of the school in mind. The fi eldhouse at Central Campus is more than 46,000 square feet and includes seating for 400 people. This dif- fers from the near 50,000-square-foot fi eldhouse at West Campus, which was designed with seating for 2,500 peo- ple during basketball games or large events. Central’s fi eldhouse was also designed to seat 700 people during track meets. The difference in square footage and seating capacity was due to the facilities that were in existence at each campus. The existing Central Campus gym seats more than 3,600
people and is historic in nature. At the West Campus, the existing gym seats about 1,600 people, which is signifi cant- ly less than the Central Campus. At Central Campus, an atrium was constructed to con-
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Two high schools in Joliet, Ill., have new fi eldhouses thanks to the approval of a $24 million referendum.
New Athletic Turf JTHS took the opportunity to improve existing facilities
and install artifi cial turf at both campuses. Previously, JTHS students played football games offsite. Students from Joliet Central had to travel off campus for games and practices. As the programs worked to establish their identities,
JTHS felt it was important to incorporate the schools’ logos into the turf design. Instead of spray painting the logos, the mascot and the name of each school was de- signed out of colored turf, which resulted in a bold image that instills pride in our students, staff and community. An eight-lane track also was installed. The combina-
tion of the turf and the track resulted in a multi-use facil- ity used for football, soccer, physical education, ROTC, band and more. The turf and track maximized playing time because there are no longer cancellations of games due to rainfall. It’s also cost effective, due to the low maintenance and upkeep.
Community Support & Results With the support of our community, board of education, administration, parents and students, JTHS has state-of- the-art facilities comparable to nearby schools. We host several regional, sectional, supersectional and state tour- naments. It gives me great pride to take part in a project that has more than doubled the opportunities for students.
May/June 2013 37
Joliet Township
High School District 204, Joliet, Ill. By Chris Olson, Joliet Township High School District 204, Joliet, Ill.
nect the fi eldhouse to the school campus. The versatile space houses a concession stand, restrooms and a spirit store. The facility is utilized by the students, staff and community for a variety of purposes, including special events and class re- unions. The West Campus facility also includes a smaller atrium space that houses a ticket booth and additional space for crowds to gather as they enter or exit the building.
PHOTO CREDIT: PAUL SCHLISMANN–PHOTOS COURTESY OF WIGHT AND COMPANY
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