Physical education facility receives a $14m upgrade at moline high school
Outdated equipment, packed facilities, long lines, and not enough space for practices and classroom lessons. These were just a few of the challenges facing the Moline-Coal Valley School District, which spurred the construction of a brand-new, multi-purpose physical education facility at Moline High School.
Having outgrown the 1950’s era facility, the Moline-Coal Valley School District needed a solution that included a modern facility offering new health and wellness opportunities for students, as well as improved safety and efficiency. Instead of holding classes and practices in the hallways, students and student-athletes needed ample space to learn and train.
Trusted Partners
To bring their dreams to reality, the Moline-Coal Valley School District turned to long-time trusted partners of Russell Construction & Development (Russell) and Shive-Hattery, Inc. Architects to design and build their new $14 million dollar facility. Exterior construction activities kicked off in November 2019 and were completed in January 2021.
The two-phased project involved the 20,000 sf renovation of the existing gym and locker space and a 66,000 sf addition. Amenities include four full-sized, multi-sport courts (basketball, tennis, and volleyball) enclosed by a six-lane, 200-meter track, field events areas, and retractable batting cages suspended from the ceiling for all-weather softball and baseball practice. The facility also features a large state-of-the-art weight room, new wrestling room, training room, locker rooms, equipment storage, and a new commons area.
A new commons area connects the physical education facility with the cafeteria. In what used to be a bottleneck for school traffic, this area provides a space for students to spread out to study, dine, or connect. Additionally, the new facility offers inclusive wellness opportunities for all students and student-athletes. They can tailor personalized training programs via iPad connected to machines in the new, expanded weight room. The addition also includes an all-gender restroom and complies with the latest ADA standards; all students of all ability levels can participate and feel welcome.
Managing Multiple Projects
A unique aspect of this project was the concurrent construction of the $14 million physical education facility, as well as a complete overhaul of the High School’s entire HVAC systems, equating to over $15 million in upgrades.
The Moline-Coal Valley School District knew both projects would require extensive coordination with students, staff, and the community so it was best to collaborate with one trusted construction team to help facilitate and lead them through this process. Working on two major projects at the same time required detailed planning and coordination between the school and Russell’s experienced team to ensure efficiency and most importantly, safety.
This separate HVAC upgrade project involved the demolition and reinstallation of piping, lighting, and ceilings. Ultimately, over 30 miles of piping was installed throughout the High School to provide the school with air conditioning, an updated boiler room, and overall energy savings.
Future & Growth Ready
Despite numerous challenges that arose from the COVID-19 pandemic, the disruption of a devastating Midwest storm derecho, managing two major construction projects, and the internal complexity of the structure, Russell’s project team completed the physical education facility two weeks ahead of schedule. The new state-of-the-art facility will serve Moline students and community members as a center for life-long health and well-being for years to come.
