The foundation will get poured and typically sit for 28 days so the concrete will get as strong as it can. Then you can start stacking steel on top. That’s why we’re kind of in a hurry because we want the concrete poured, we want the cement floor, we have to put pipes underneath for electrical and plumbing and then we’ll put a concrete slab.

Construction of the Performing Arts and Athletics Centers continues at the upper school as school begins this fall. During the summer, construction consisted mainly of organizing underground infrastructure such as storm lines, sewage systems and electric banks. Currently, the construction team has dug two deep holes for the two buildings and will set the foundations.

The groundbreaking ceremony for the project took place in early May, and the construction team, led by facility manager Mike Bassoni, commenced work later in the month.

The main focus of the project in July was to dig two 15-foot-deep holes for rerouting utilities.

Construction workers poured concrete to stabilize the athletics building in late July, and the concrete slab for the floor of the gym will be placed in late September or early October.

“The foundation will get poured and typically sit for 28 days so the concrete will get as strong as it can. Then you can start stacking steel on top. That’s why we’re kind of in a hurry because we want the concrete poured, we want the cement floor, we have to put pipes underneath for electrical and plumbing and then we’ll put a concrete slab.

Athletics department head Daniel Molin hopes to take advantage of this gymnasium not just for invoking student participation in athletics.

“You’ll notice more school spirit; people will rally around gymnasium events, and that really brings a lot of excitement,” Molin said.

The performing arts center has multiple unique features, including the 60-foot-high fly wall, which will consist of an area above the theater to house curtains, lights and scenery for theatrical production.

“Performing in an actual theater with everything that comes along with it, from fly space to wing space to just being able to actually rehearse in there before the show and to actually have classroom time in there too, is really a game changer for me professionally, and it’s a game changer for the students,” performing arts department head Laura Lang-Ree said.

As the city of San Jose only allows buildings with a maximum height of 35 feet, Bassoni had to obtain a variance to built the fly wall alone. This wall will be the tallest not only on campus but also within a four to five mile radius.

“This [building has] the kind of features you would see down in Hollywood, in Broadway and in the top theaters in San Francisco; this theater is going to have the same features,” Bassoni said.

Construction has affected numerous aspects of the school, causing relocation of parking, longer routes between classes and changes to Manzanita Hall.

During passing period, students will have to take longer routes from Shah Hall to Nichols building, as much of the space in front of the gym will be blocked due to construction.

“Just walking from class to class, if you were leaving Dobbins Hall, you’ve kind of been able to take a line-of-sight [walk] to Shah, but now you’re going to have to walk behind very confined corridors or through the academic building and through the art building,” Bassoni said. “Moving back and forth between classes is going to be a challenge this year.”

The construction team has blocked the walkway in Manzanita Hall from the Edge to the area food is distributed and built a staircase between the same area and the main room in the building.

As the construction takes up a large portion of the student and faculty parking area, parking spaces during construction will decrease about 50 percent, according to Bassoni. However, after construction is complete, there will be four or five more parking spaces on campus than there were originally.

In terms of morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up traffic, parents will have to take a longer route to their destination.

“During the morning drop-off, all traffic will turn to the right and drive along the edge of Nichols Hall and past Dobbins Hall and down to the back driveway and drop off. Once you’re done, you’ll go out the back gate,” Bassoni said. “After construction is finished, you’ll still come down the same path until the oak trees where you’ll do an 180 U-turn, and all along both buildings, there will be a drop off lane.”

Maile Chung (12) who participates in both performing arts and athletics as a member of the jazz band and orchestra and a soccer player, will have graduated by the time the two buildings are complete.

“I’m most excited to watch the underclassmen play in games at the upper school, especially basketball and volleyball,” Maile said. “I really wish I had the practice room and orchestra pit.”

As a senior the construction is an impedance, for privileges such as on-campus parking have been rescinded.

“If we had parking, I think we would have utilized our off campus privileges more and gone out for lunch at the mall rather than maybe just going across the street,” Maile said. “It’s a little bit of a hindrance, but for me, it’s a plus side because I see it as the future growing.”