CLEVELAND, Tenn. -- Cleveland education officials say that, after a series of delays, construction of Raider Arena - Cleveland High School's new gymnasium - now is projected to be wrapped up by the first week of March 2016.
The new gymnasium replaces the high school's 50-year-old landmark Raider Dome, which was closed in December 2013 and demolished during the 2014 summer break.
In a recent meeting, the Cleveland City Council received an update on the facility's construction from Tom Cloud, chairman of the Cleveland City school board.
"We are still pretty much on target," Cloud said of the new opening date. That date had been pushed back a few months due to weather delays since construction was launched in late 2014.
Crews work on the roof of Cleveland High School's Raider Arena, which is currently scheduled for completion in March 2016. School officials report that roof covering is 90 percent complete on the new gymnasium.Cloud cited the wet summer as a contributing factor.
Plans are still in the works to host Cleveland High School's 2016 graduation in Raider Arena, Cloud said.
"I'm surprised at the progress that has been made," Councilman Dale Hughes said. "It will be a wonderful facility for our city in the future."
Recent construction benchmarks are expected to prevent weather delays in the near future, Cloud said. He said Raider Arena's roof decking is complete and that roof covering is 90 percent complete.
The pouring of concrete slabs is well underway and sprinkler, plumbing, air conditioning and electrical systems are being installed, Cloud said.
Some electrical and water work will be delayed until fall break to avoid temporary disruptions in service on the school's campus, said Hal Taylor, director of maintenance and transportation for the city school system.
Raider Arena will have a capacity of 3,500 people between bleachers and the temporary seating that about doubles the seating capacity of the Raider Dome, according to previous school board discussions with architectural consultants.
Cleveland High School principal Autumn O'Brien repeatedly has stated that the loss of the school's main gymnasium has affected wellness education, requiring those classes to be temporarily conducted at the schools' smaller athletic facilities.
The construction of Raider Arena has been capped at $11 million, according to an agreement between the city school board and the Cleveland City Council.
Paul Leach is based in Cleveland. Email him at paul.leach.press@gmail.com.