Moses Lake Christian Academy gym construction begins
Cheryl Schweizer/Columbia Basin Herald A basketball court and soccer field were removed to make room for the new gym at Moses Lake Christian Academy. Construction begins this week.
Cheryl Schweizer/Columbia Basin Herald Michael Knutson, Knutson Construction, checks elevations and locations on the site of the new Moses Lake Christian Academy gym. Construction of the exterio
Foundation work
starts today
MOSES LAKE — Foundation work has begun on the new gym for the Moses Lake Christian Academy, at 1475 E. Nelson Road.
Ground preparation began Monday, said Fred Meise, who is on the committee overseeing the project, with excavation starting Wednesday morning.
Enough money has been raised to build the foundation and raise the building’s exterior, he said. Academy officials purchased the steel building for the gym about three years ago.
“We’re moving forward. It’s an exciting day,” Meise said. The cost of the building, which will be 11,360 square feet, is estimated at $1.5 million to completion, what Meise called “turnkey.” Academy officials have been working on the project since 2015, Meise said. To date the committee has raised more than $500,000, he added.
Completing the foundation and raising the building is the first phase of the project, he said. The second phase will include finishing the interior.
The new gym will have bleacher seating for about 500 people, locker rooms and a concession stand. Academy officials are raising money for the gym floor, bleachers, locker room and concession equipment, he said.
The academy has the use of a gym, but not on the MLCA campus. The site for the new gym is next to the existing elementary school, which required removing the MLCA soccer field and an outdoor basketball court.
A fundraiser will be held for the gym project during the annual MLCA crab feed scheduled for March 21, Meise said.
Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at education@columbiabasinherald.com.
