GCHS new gym floor is history in the making

Greenfield-Central High School’s gymnasium is getting a historic makeover, with new flooring that comes only once every 50 years.

According to a press release from the school, it's beyond historic, it’s scientific: the new floor is designed to reduce the impact on athletes’ joints and muscles.

Additionally, springtime construction is creating an entirely new space at GCHS. A dance studio will be in the area that once held scenery and costumes in the old auditorium. 

With motivation to get renovations complete in time for Graduation Day, here’s a look at the projects at the school.

Gymnasium floor well underway

Robbins Floor is the product that’s being installed at GCHS. 

Robbins floors not only look great on camera, the company states, but also improves performance and enhances endurance.

The technology is in the layers, explains GCHS Athletic Director Jared Manning. The old floor was removed and only the subfloor remains. A padding was placed on the original subfloor; an additional subfloor was placed on that; and maple as the final layer. 

Lines and logos will be added project completion.

Robbins floors outperform others when measured for vibration, deflection and ball practice. Players and coaches report lower fatigue, stress and recovery times when they practice or play on such a floor.

Walking through the space Wednesday morning, Manning was pleased that most of the floor was already down and they simply had to move the bleachers to complete the layout.

“It’s a very scientific process– they’ve done all the research and everything,” Manning said. “It’s only been about a week from the time they got the first board down, to where they are now. It just went quick.”

The new flooring will come with a few measurement tweaks as well: the layered technology means it will be 1.5 inches higher than the previous floor. Small ramps will be installed at doorways to accommodate the space, and even basketball hoops will be raised 1.5 inches.

The Greenfield-Central School Board approved the contract with Cincinnati Flooring last month through a government purchasing agreement. The gym floor project has been on the radar for years, Manning added. The old floor was installed in 1972; it had been replaced shortly after the building opened due to an installation issue.

“Our floor, over those 50-plus years, had developed several dead spots and had really reached its lifespan,” he said. 

The impact of the project goes well beyond basketball in the highly-utilized community space.

“Dellen Automotive Gymnasium is used for volleyball, basketball, wrestling, indoor percussion, winter winds, winter guard, dance, physical education classes, school assemblies, graduation and several other school and community events throughout the year.”

There is only a small lull in gymnasium use: spring was the ideal time for the construction project. It will be complete by one week prior to Graduation Day, and in time for summer sports camps. 

Manning said he’s glad the school board approved the Robbins product, which is not only used in high schools across the nation but also in many collegiate and professional gymnasiums.

“We could have just torn the maple up and put (new) maple down, but it’s going to be healthier and better for our student athletes and it’s going to perform better, and last just as long,” he said.

Additional construction in the works

A side project is also in the works. For years, the Blue Fusion Dance Team had been using the gymnasium. Now, they’re getting a space of their own.

Similar flooring is being installed in the former backstage/scenery storage area of the old auditorium.

The new dance studio will give the team an opportunity to practice in their own space.The improvements are possible because everything was moved to the new Performing Arts Center last year. 

Dr. Harold Olin, superintendent of Greenfield Central schools, said it’s exciting to see the commitment of GC leaders making improvements for the building for generations to come.

“The gym floor at the high school served our community well for many decades,” Olin said. “We have pushed off this project for many years due to other priorities we addressed in previous years. The gym floor had simply reached its ‘end of life.’”

The subfloor system in a gymnasium is completely different from a subfloor system people are used to seeing in their homes, he added. 

“There is a lot of science in the construction of a gym floor that helps to make it a better playing surface for athletes and performers,” Olin said. “There is a lot more to it than the stain color and graphics that everyone sees. The way a floor is constructed from the foundation up is crucial for reducing injuries.”