Orange Beach City Schools Press Release, Oct. 18, 2023
During the Orange Beach City Council meeting on October 17, 2023, the City unanimously approved a resolution supporting the construction of an athletic complex on the Orange Beach Middle and High School campus. Previously, in a special Board Meeting on October 10, 2023, the Orange Beach Board of Education unanimously approved the bid award to Bear Construction of Pensacola, Florida, for $46,162,000.
Athletic Complex
The 100-year facilities will include a gymnasium, multi-sport pavilion, Kinesiology and Exercise Science Building, track, soccer/football fields with grandstands, and other support facilities.
Competition Gymnasium
The gymnasium will seat 1,200 spectators for numerous academic, athletic, and co-curricular activities. Extracurricular activities, such as but not limited to volleyball, basketball, and wrestling, will benefit from this addition. The center-hung video boards will be operated by students, providing hands-on, minds-on learning opportunities for students interested in television productions and digital media.
Kinesiology and Exercise Science Building
The two-story Kinesiology and Exercise Science Building will consist of classroom and meeting spaces, strength and conditioning facilities, a physical therapy room, cheerleading, wrestling, and football locker rooms, storage, wrestler and cheerleader practice areas, and coaching cubicles and offices. Within the building, there are learning opportunities for students pursuing careers in health sciences and/or physical education via an 80-seat theatre-style space that can be used as two classrooms, a sports-medicine rehabilitation center for student trainers to gain hands-on experience (i.e., hydrocollator, ice machine, six exam tables, and two rehabilitation and recovery plunge pools, etc.), and a state-of-the-art strength and conditioning facility, which will be utilized by every student-athlete.
Track
The eight-lane track will encircle the turfed soccer/football field and contain a high jump, long jump, pole vault, javelin, and discus areas.
Stadium
The stadium's grandstand will seat 3,500, and its lighting is LED. Restrooms and concession areas are included. The state-of-the-art Jumbo-Tron and gymnasium's center-hung video boards will be operated by students, providing hands-on, minds-on learning opportunities for students interested in television productions and digital media. Every physical education class may utilize new facilities.
Multi-Purpose Pavilion
The multi-purpose pavilion may be used for academic, co-, or extracurricular activities. During inclement weather, the turfed surface will be utilized by various organizations. The multi-purpose pavilion’s dimensions are 150' by 200' with a 60' apex.
Usage
Every student-athlete will benefit from the new facility regardless of athletic affiliation. If used today, approximately 80% of all students would benefit directly from the facility. Currently, cheerleaders and wrestling teams practice off campus, strength and conditioning classes are conducted in a storage unit facility, students do not have track facilities, and seven basketball teams and five volleyball teams use one court. There are over 400 student-athletes who need adequate practice, storage, and locker room spaces. Countless events will be held in the new facility (i.e., band festivals, philanthropic events, 7-on-7 camps, basketball and volleyball tournaments, and track and wrestling meets), helping the local economy.
Note of Appreciation
Orange Beach City Schools would like to thank the Orange Beach Board of Education members, the Orange Beach City Council, and Mayor Tony Kennon for supporting students and staff and their commitment to excellence.
Construction is set to start next month [November 2023], and the completion date is estimated to be May 30, 2025.
Video of City Council Meeting
Watch City Council meeting - Hour-long discussion on athletic complex starts at 8-minute mark on Facebook Live video:
