Granada High Breaks Ground on Athletics, Aquatics Project

From LVJUSD: A little rain could not keep the Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District (LVJUSD) community from celebrating the groundbreaking of the new Granada High School (GHS) Athletics and Aquatics Renovation Project, made possible by the Livermore community’s support of Measure J. On Wednesday, February 20, 2019, community leaders, students, staff members, and teachers gathered near the school’s newly renovated stadium in the area of the new pool and aquatics center. Those assembled represented the substantial commitment from all areas of the community – from Livermore Mayor John Marchand, to members of the Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee, to student-athletes – dedicated to supporting the improvement of facilities for the success of student fitness, athletics, and education.

“With this, and other key bond projects, we’re transforming our community through our schools,” said LVJUSD Board President Craig Bueno at the groundbreaking ceremony. “We thank the people of the Livermore community for supporting our schools and supporting education.”

Soon, students at GHS will have brand new athletics facilities in which to develop their athletic skills, compete, and receive health and physical fitness instruction. When walking through the north end of the campus, students will find ample space to meet or find a shady spot to read, surrounded by the new buildings where they can exercise and learn about living a healthy lifestyle.

The GHS Athletics and Aquatics Renovation Project includes a new classroom building with a dedicated weight room, a physical education (PE) classroom, a wrestling mat room, a dance and exercise room, and a new pool. The adaptable larger rooms will provide for a wide variety of instruction and activities. These state-of-the-art facilities will accommodate higher levels of competition for a variety of sports, and allow for better instruction and practice throughout the school’s athletics program.

“The Granada High School community is excited for the beginning of construction on our new athletic facility,” said David Moore, GHS Athletic Director. “Once completed, this addition to our campus will provide all of our students with high-quality facilities and equipment that will help them be successful on the field and in the pool, and enhance their overall fitness. We thank the community for making this possible and cannot wait for the pool and buildings to be completed next year.”

During the October 16 Regular Board Meeting, the LVJUSD School Board unanimously approved the construction contract for this project – one of the signature projects of the District’s Measure J Bond Program. It represents a significant step forward in the Measure J Bond Program, with construction planned to begin before the end of the calendar year and expected to be completed by winter 2019-20. While construction is underway, the LVJUSD Bond department is committed to minimizing disruption to programs throughout the campus as much as possible.

Plans for the facilities were developed with input gathered through extensive user group meetings to gather program requirements and feedback on the school’s athletic and physical fitness needs. Each dedicated room encourages diverse instruction; coaches and teachers will be able to focus activities and practices with resources specifically designed for their purposes. Working with the layout of the campus, the new buildings will create a natural courtyard around the large oak tree currently in place next to the gyms.

To make way for the additional facilities and pool, the old swimming pool was demolished after the conclusion of the water polo season. Temporary accommodations for practices and games have been coordinated by GHS for the spring swim season and next year’s water polo season. Athletes in the GHS aquatics programs eagerly await these facilities. The new pool will be three times the size of the old one, allowing for GHS to host events and widen the scope of practices. The new width provides more lanes for practice and swim meets, the length meets the requirements for water polo competitions, and the depth will continue to accommodate the diving program at GHS. A dedicated community pool house and changing area will be included in the pool area, providing easy access to and from the pool.

Accessibility is a key feature of the new pool, which will include a lift for safe and secure immersion for instruction and therapy. Gradually submerged steps will provide students with adequate space to safely receive instruction and practice swimming skills at appropriate depths. In addition, the long-term operating cost of the pool will be reduced through an advanced filtration system that minimizes heating costs and chemicals, for more efficient and cost-effective maintenance.

Following the recent renovation of the stadium bleachers, the GHS Athletics and Aquatics Renovation Project will make the school home to numerous state-of-the-art facilities that promise to provide students and athletes with outstanding physical education instruction. The upgrades will not only serve to benefit the athletics program, but will add to the overall beautification, accessibility, and sense of community throughout the campus – exemplifying the spirit and pride of the school within its walls.

Photo of groundbreaking courtesy of Livermore Granada Boosters

Computer renderings of future complex courtesy of LVJUSD