2008 Woodie Awards
Sports Complex gets gym-floor facelift, loses dead spots
Christina Roper
Issue date: 7/17/07 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 1
The UAA Wells Fargo Sports Complex is currently undergoing much-needed and highly anticipated renovations.
Restrained by a $350,000 budget and only six weeks to install an entirely new gym floor, assistant facility director Kevin Silver said he is hopeful that the renovation will be completed by Aug. 5 in order for the volleyball team at UAA to begin their season's practice.
The old gym floor, built 25 years ago, now with 2-inch floor shifts, warped bands and floor ripples, was in need of a remodel.
"We're taking special precautions with the new floor," said Silver.
Learning from past problems with the maple floor due to excessive moisture and damage caused by a flood from the storage room, UAA is installing two coats of white membrane to keep moisture from deteriorating the new floor.
Workers contracted through Alaskan Industries can be heard pounding pins into the metal strips being placed underneath the floor. The first layer of Oriented Strand Board, commonly known as OSB, helps to structurally enhance the flooring. Another layer is then stapled and glued down at a 45-degree angle to keep the floor from shifting
Worker Bruce Wittenbert explained that the OSB gives a basketball more bounce on the floor and solves the problem of "dead spots," places on the floor where a ball is intended to bounce but doesn't. In the past, basketball players knew where these dead spots where and used them to their advantage. In this case, most of the dead spots are centrally located on the court, creating disadvantages for both teams.
Rusty Osbourne, head UAA men's basketball coach, said he hopes this new gym floor will benefit not only his team but everyone else that uses the gym.
"The old one wasn't terrible," he said, "but the gym floor gets much use from sports, PE students, interscholastic sports and the general public."
Once the gym is finished, all three volleyball courts will be usable. Everyone can then say goodbye to dead spots and hello to a higher-quality gym.
All summer programs have been canceled since late June, when the remodeling began. On Friday the crew was a week and a half behind schedule. If the floor is not finished in time, the volleyball team will practice at APU until their home gym is ready.
In the midst of all this remodeling, almost the entirety of the old floor is being saved. Parts of the floor are being sold in auctions, and other floor materials are being used for smaller schools that need gym floor improvements. Some of the materials are being given as gifts; others have been specified as decoration in athletic director Steve Cobb's office.
This new gym floor will be a great renovation, those involved said, opening UAA up to new opportunities and expanding the ones already available.
"It will benefit everybody," said Silver.
Restrained by a $350,000 budget and only six weeks to install an entirely new gym floor, assistant facility director Kevin Silver said he is hopeful that the renovation will be completed by Aug. 5 in order for the volleyball team at UAA to begin their season's practice.
The old gym floor, built 25 years ago, now with 2-inch floor shifts, warped bands and floor ripples, was in need of a remodel.
"We're taking special precautions with the new floor," said Silver.
Learning from past problems with the maple floor due to excessive moisture and damage caused by a flood from the storage room, UAA is installing two coats of white membrane to keep moisture from deteriorating the new floor.
Workers contracted through Alaskan Industries can be heard pounding pins into the metal strips being placed underneath the floor. The first layer of Oriented Strand Board, commonly known as OSB, helps to structurally enhance the flooring. Another layer is then stapled and glued down at a 45-degree angle to keep the floor from shifting
Worker Bruce Wittenbert explained that the OSB gives a basketball more bounce on the floor and solves the problem of "dead spots," places on the floor where a ball is intended to bounce but doesn't. In the past, basketball players knew where these dead spots where and used them to their advantage. In this case, most of the dead spots are centrally located on the court, creating disadvantages for both teams.
Rusty Osbourne, head UAA men's basketball coach, said he hopes this new gym floor will benefit not only his team but everyone else that uses the gym.
"The old one wasn't terrible," he said, "but the gym floor gets much use from sports, PE students, interscholastic sports and the general public."
Once the gym is finished, all three volleyball courts will be usable. Everyone can then say goodbye to dead spots and hello to a higher-quality gym.
All summer programs have been canceled since late June, when the remodeling began. On Friday the crew was a week and a half behind schedule. If the floor is not finished in time, the volleyball team will practice at APU until their home gym is ready.
In the midst of all this remodeling, almost the entirety of the old floor is being saved. Parts of the floor are being sold in auctions, and other floor materials are being used for smaller schools that need gym floor improvements. Some of the materials are being given as gifts; others have been specified as decoration in athletic director Steve Cobb's office.
This new gym floor will be a great renovation, those involved said, opening UAA up to new opportunities and expanding the ones already available.
"It will benefit everybody," said Silver.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Cody Boettcher
posted 9/11/07 @ 7:57 PM AKST
Christina or anybody,
Do you know what they did with their old maple gym flooring? I need some and would appreciate any direction you can give me. Thanks. (Continued…)
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