The King’s Academy Begins Construction of New Athletic and Academic Facility

The King’s Academy Board of Trustees took time during its recent quarterly meeting to dig up a little dirt as construction symbolically began on a new athletic facility. The 14,400 square foot building will offer additional academic space as well, and is the first major construction project on the academy’s 67-acre campus in over twenty years.

The project is one of several components in the academy’s Celebrating Our Past—TOGETHER—Building Our Future capital campaign launched in 2011.  Campaign Co-Chair Harry Wampler said this milestone was the result of a team effort.  The Lenoir City businessman expressed appreciation to “administrators, board members, staff and committees who worked long and hard to make this building project a success.”

Wampler added, “Spiritually, academically and athletically we are becoming one of the top K-12 schools in the area. With the addition of this new building we are creating more opportunities for our students. To God be the glory!”

Board Chair Carter Davis, an academy graduate who participated in sports as a student, led the groundbreaking ceremony.  “These are indeed exciting days at The King’s Academy,” said Davis. “This indoor athletic facility is just one of the many plans we are implementing to facilitate our mission of educating and preparing students for the twenty-first century.  We envision athletics in a supporting role as sports build community and prepare students to work cooperatively with one another.”

The new facility will house two regulation basketball courts. That space will also accommodate two volleyball courts, batting and pitching cages for baseball/softball, and, when cages are removed, a 30-yard x 40-yard area for football and soccer practice.  The height of the building in the middle will be 28 feet. A two-story section within the building includes space for meeting rooms, offices, locker rooms and a concession stand.

Pat Lett of Page and Associates in Knoxville has been chosen as contractor for the project.

The building will be situated adjacent to the school’s baseball field.  Existing water and sewer lines were moved this week from the site in preparation for grading.  The building is projected to open in May 2013.

TKA Athletic Director Marc Weekly has been involved in fund raising efforts for the facility and is grateful for the progress.  “We want to prepare athletes on a different level.  Having a state-of-the-art facility like this gives us the ability to train in any kind of weather.”

Weekly said that hosting camps, clinics and community programs is also part of TKA’s strategy. “Many people have not had the pleasure of viewing our beautiful and expansive campus. This building allows us to be visible and to get more people here than ever before.”

“I have heard it said,” Weekly added, “and I believe it to be accurate, that the athletic program is the front porch of the institution. That may not be the most important room in the house, but it usually is the most visible.  We’re remodeling our front porch.”