When the old gymnasium at Highland Magnet at Kenwood School was torn down in 2017, Bend didn’t just lose a school gym, it lost a beloved place of community gatherings, learning and a neighborhood icon.

Now, that icon is almost back in place, as a modernized replacement gym is set to open in time for school to start in September.

The gym’s roof collapsed due to heavy snow accumulation on Jan.12, 2017. The building was torn down almost immediately.

Mike Condon, project manager for Bend-La Pine Schools, said the new gym is close to completion. There are also plans to take down the temporary structure that has been used as a gym for the past year before school starts.

The original gym at Highland was nostalgic to many. Its demolition affected students, staff and parents alike. The building was more than just a school gym — it was a space for learning, growth and achievement, according to Condon.

Highland, a magnet school, embraces what is known as the Scottish Storyline Method. This way of teaching encourages students to ask questions and guide the curriculum on their own in narrative-style performances. The school’s gym was home to a stage where many of those performances took place, as well as to a music room in the building’s basement.

The new gym mimics the original in many ways, while focusing especially on functionality. At 11,561 square feet, the new building matches the old one’s size exactly. The layout, however, is markedly improved in terms of using the space as efficiently as possible.

Because the reconstruction of the $4.2 million gym was paid for with an insurance payout, contractors have been able to match the character and quality of the original building without some of the typical constraints on similar projects, such as budget, Condon said.

“In the old building, the music room was down in the basement, in a space that wasn’t really designed for music,” Condon said. “The new space is one level, so it’s accessible and it’s a lot more functional. They have a really nice new music room, and the stage we designed with a full-wall partition so that they can close it off from the gym and use it as another teaching space.”

In addition to the new gym’s entryway being crafted from the original gym’s weathered bricks, salvaged from demolition, other design aspects are similar to the old building.

Ceiling tiles in the new gym are an updated take on the early 20th-century tiles that covered the original gym. The stage is lined with light wood — as are the windows — similar to what was in the old building. Instead of in the basement, the new music room sits on the ground floor, getting plenty of natural light.

Condon said another unique aspect of the building is the construction itself. Highland’s new gym was built using insulated concrete forms, with high-tech thermal insulation that will maximize the gym’s energy efficiency.

“Throughout construction the building hasn’t fluctuated more than about 5 degrees,” Condon said. With just two large ceiling fans replacing an air conditioner, the building felt cool despite the hot summer sun.

There will also be a ramp connecting the Kenwood School building to the gym, accompanied by a small courtyard, heated to avoid freezing in the winter.

The original gym, which opened in 1950, provided Bend with its largest floor, according to The Bulletin’s archives. The old building’s completion was celebrated with a public concert, square dancing and games.

While the district does not plan to host a public opening for the new gym, students will soon be able to christen the building with their own singing, dancing and games.

— Reporter: 541-383-0312, echandler@bendbulletin.com