PC gym renovation nears completion

The renovation of the Porterville College gymnasium continues following the installation of a new floor this summer.

“It’s really nice,” PC athletic director Joe Cascio said. “Like the floor is 99% done, the floor part of it. And man, it looks great. It really does.”

Renovations started around the beginning of May, when the floor was demolished and pulled up to make way for the new one. Cascio said the gym’s previous floors were the originals and had been there for close to 50 years.

The gym’s last update was in 2016 when the roof was repaired and swamp coolers were removed to make way for new air conditioning units during the summer using Measure G bonds. Prior to that the gym also had two new installed between the 2015-16 winter break.

This time around flooring, an upgraded public announcing system, new air conditioning, updated padding along the baseline and a professional bleacher service were part of the gym’s updates.

Renovation to the hallway floors that houses most of the coaches’ offices, as well as men’s basketball head coach Rob Haynes’ office floor were completed. The coaches row of offices and the women’s and men’s locker room entrances received new tile flooring while new carpet floor was installed in Haynes’ office located inside the gym.

The Terrazzo floor in the gym foyer and gym restrooms were also reconditioned and polished. Fitness Room 744 will also be sanded and reconditioned as part of the project.

With the help of Measure J bonds, the project continues to run within budget and on time with an estimated completion date for mid-august.

“There isn’t a date set,” Cascio said. “We’re feeling really confident that we’re going to do some sort of official ribbon cutting ceremony right around the beginning of school. The first day of school is August 26. That doesn’t mean that it won’t finish before then.”

Cascio also said the updates haven’t affected any of the athletic teams ability to practice and volleyball should be able to begin practicing on their scheduled start date of August 15.

“It doesn’t look like there’s going to be any impact other than just some scrambling for some of the summer programs but nothing dramatic,” Cascio said. “We have every belief that volleyball’s going to start practice in there on time.”