By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com

Public input is being sought on a proposed shared-use gymnasium in the North Mesa area at the Los Alamos Middle School campus.

A virtual public meeting was held on the project June 1.

During the meeting, Public Works Project Manager Sara Rhoton provided some background on the gymnasium.

The discussion of additional gym space originated in 2016 when the County convened a focus group to get an understanding of what the community’s needs are for recreation and gym space, she said. A multi-use activity center was brought to voters in 2017 but was voted down. However, the idea reappeared in discussions between the school district and the County regarding a new gymnasium at the middle school. Ultimately, the project was added to the County’s capital improvement project list in 2019, Rhoton said.

Additionally, grant money was received for the gymnasium project last year. Rhoton said the project is in the first phase – the predesign, or the planning phase.

“We got phase 1 funded,” she said. “Once we are done with this phase, we’re bringing the information that we’re developing for the school board and County Council to consider, and we have two main tasks … to evaluate and take a closer look at several locations at the campus that the school board and County Council requested during a joint work session on Feb. 28 (and) we’re also looking at a range of sizes for the facility.”

There are three sites under consideration, Sanjay Engineer and Drew Fisher with FBT Architects said.

The sites were selected after conducting preliminary assessments of several locations, Engineer said.

Site A is adjacent to the Los Alamos Middle School’s two-story classroom wings. It is accessible on the north side and the eastern side of the school’s main parking lot. Site B is in front of the middle school on its south side, closer to its main entrance. Site C is next to and south of the school’s bus loop.

There are pros and cons to each site, Engineer and Fisher said.

Pros and cons of Site A:

• The building could be sunken to have less of a visual impact.
• However, because it would be next to the two-story classroom wing, the proposed gym would obscure any views and sunlight from the wing.
• Multiple utilities would need to be relocated and it would impact the fire access road.
• The site also places limits on the size of the gymnasium.

Pros and cons of Site B:

• The gymnasium would be in close proximity to the school’s existing gym facility.
• There would be little to no need to relocate utilities.
• No views or natural sunlight would be lost, and it could add interest to the view on Hawk Drive.
• There would be significant impact on parking and the parent drop off/pick up area. The parking would need to be reorganized.

Pros and cons of Site C:

• There wouldn’t be any need to relocate utilities.
• There is a significant grade change at this location, which would allow the building to be sunken into the hill. As a result, the building could be stacked on blocks, which is a smart construction tool to keep costs down.
• It offers separate accesses for students and the public.
• There is space for any potential expansion of the shared gym.

While there are several options for the location of the building, there also are different choices for the size of the building and the amenities it would offer, Fisher and Engineer said.

The smallest, least expensive option is a 14,560 square foot facility that is projected to cost between $5.8 million and $6.5 million to construct. This would provide for gym space, bleachers, a lobby, storage, public restrooms and changing room/restroom for referees.

The next option labeled as the “medium option”, is a 19,175 square foot building with a preliminary estimated construction cost between $7.6 million and $8.6 million. In addition to all the features in the first option, this would provide locker rooms for both home and visiting teams as well as a ticket booth and concessions.

The final or “large option” proposes a 28,925 square foot facility that would cost between $11.5 million and $13 million. This option offers all the amenities of the first two options as well as multi-purpose rooms and an elevated running track.

To make the best decision, a matrix is being used to score the different sites.

The criteria includes:

• Education: or the location/proximity for students’ ease of access, visual control and security. Additionally, each sites’ amenities and educational opportunities.
• Community: or the location/proximity for the public’s ease of access as well as amenities and the opportunities for the public.
• Site: its size, access, circulation, parking and buildable area.
• Construction: costs and logistics.

During the meeting, stakeholders or representatives from the school district and County, weighed in on the project.

Speaking for herself, former Los Alamos Middle School Principal Suzanne Lynne said she had concerns about Site A.

“We feel as though A is not a good choice because it really changes the entire look of the school and the intentions that were set out when they built the school and there is no room for expansion …,” she said.
Jill Gonzales, the new middle school principal, said she concurred. She added she felt there was security issues with Site B because it would block the main office’s view of the school’s entrance.

Her preferred option was Site C, she said.

Assistant Superintendent Jennifer Guy said she was impressed with the plans presented at the meeting, adding that they “capture needs of the schools and community.”

She added that Site B or C are workable but felt Site A presents challenges.

A local resident, Lisa Reader, asked how the cost would be divided up between the school district and the County.

Deputy Public Works Director Eric Martinez said that was still being discussed and would be something the council and school board would have to consider as well.”

A poll taken during the June 1 meeting showed that the meeting’s participants favored Site C and the option for the largest sized facility.

The project will be discussed again during the Parks and Recreation Board meeting 5:30 p.m. today.

The community also is invited to participate in an online survey that launched June 8 to provide feedback on the project at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LAC_LAPS_Gym. The survey closes at midnight Friday, June 24.