New Kenwood School gymnasium honored

Gets a plaque for special construction method

(Originally posted: Feb. 11, 2019)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- The new Kenwood School Gymnasium on the west side of Bend was recognized for its design, and on Monday, the elementary school was given a plaque to honor its special construction method.

Two winters ago, the original gym's roof collapsed, just hours before an assembly inside the gym was scheduled.

On Monday, on a slightly less snowy day, the new gym was presented with ICF Builder's Magazine's top prize, which it won at the World of Concrete event in Las Vegas last month.

The regional manager of the concrete firm that designed the walls with insulated concrete forms said the project won for its efficiency, noise reduction and, of course, ceiling strength.

"If that roof would've come down and that building was occupied, we would've made the national news -- for all the wrong reasons," Fox Blocks regional manager Mike Dalzell said. "So the school district wanted to build something, and they wanted to build it safer, they wanted to build it stronger, more energy-efficient, and they got all of those things."

The school also put in a state-of-the-art music room that replaced one that doubled as a locker room.