Construction to Penn expected to provide a new Weight room, science classrooms

Have you noticed the new construction area next to the cafeteria? Mr. Parker stepped into the PNN studio last fall to give an update on the progress of the construction project. Let’s hear what he has to say.

“There is going to be one little space on the first floor,” says Parker. In that new space will be a new weight room. There will also be two new science classrooms on the second floor. Parker also explained, “They concreted a door that led outside from the cafeteria and added washing stations.” Door H across from the cafeteria can lead two ways, outside and to the weight room. All of the workout machines will be going down to the first floor. The window up the ramp will become a door to one of the new science rooms. The main entrance will be through the fitness room. There will be one chemistry and one biology classroom, with safety features like eyewash stations and showers. A recent, study of Penn found that there were not an adequate amount of science classes for the students at Penn, and the new rooms will serve to bridge the gap and lower class sizes. 

For the new weight room on the first floor, it is on schedule to be finished in May. “It’s amazing how fast it goes, a semi comes, takes a piece, puts it in place, and attaches it all at once,” Parker remarked. The completion of construction in May will allow for the spaces to be furnished and ready for students in the 2021-22 school year. The science classes will have 4 periods per day and will have up to 30-32 kids per class, allowing Penn to offer more sections of introductory science classes for incoming classes. In addition, athletics teams will take advantage of new space for strength and conditioning.

A disadvantage of the new construction, the distance between new science classrooms from other academic areas. Dumpsters have been relocated to the loading docks, and the school obtained a garbage compactor. When the new weight room is completed, the loading and docking space will be significantly reduced, complicating the movement and transportation of trucks on campus.