This article originally appeared on CityBiz.
Hoar Construction begins the expansion and renovation of a 35,000-square-foot athletics facility at Girls Preparatory School (GPS) in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Hoar serves as general contractor to convert the school’s existing tennis center into a multipurpose field house, scheduled for completion in spring 2027.
GPS is an independent day school for girls in grades six through 12, located on the banks of the Tennessee River in the Riverview area of downtown Chattanooga. The tennis center sits on the school’s lower campus and, with the extensive renovation, will serve as a field house for health, training, and wellness for all students while housing four interior tennis courts.
The renovation will transform the entrance lobby and create a state-of-the-art strength and conditioning room designed specifically for female athletes; a performance and recovery center focused on rehabilitation and injury prevention; a multipurpose meeting room; a student lounge; and concession space. Locker and team rooms will be redesigned, along with updated wall and ceiling coverings around the indoor tennis courts. Exterior improvements will include landscaping and facade upgrades, expanded green spaces, and enhanced connectivity for pedestrians between the school’s upper and lower campuses.
“The GPS Fieldhouse will serve not only the school’s competitive athletes but every girl who participates in physical education, athletic, and wellness programs throughout her GPS experience” said Megan D. Cover, GPS Head of School. “This milestone represents a significant step forward in our long-term master planning and our Strategic Plan commitment to invest intentionally in our programs, people, and spaces.”
“Working alongside GPS, our focus has been on enhancing the existing facility while maintaining a safe and functional environment which minimizes disruptions to the campus,” said Chris Potter, division vice president at Hoar. “With our deep experience in education and athletic initiatives, safety and coordination are always central to how we plan and execute work, especially on an active campus like GPS. We look forward to delivering a space that best supports the school’s athletic programs and day-to-day student life.”
Prior to construction, Hoar’s virtual design and construction team completed a full interior digital scan of the facility for documentation of the existing conditions, including its layout and systems, to support design and planning efforts. That information helped guide an approach focused on delivering an efficient mix of new and revitalized spaces, while optimizing the overall footprint and functionality of the fieldhouse. During construction, exterior tennis courts will remain in use and Hoar will maintain strict, regular communication with GPS to minimize disruption to school operations and ensure pedestrian safety.
Additional project partners include Hord Coplan Macht as the architect, Pape-Dawson as the civil engineer, Bennett & Pless as the structural engineer and AEED, Inc. as the MEP engineer.
As a leading builder in the education sector, Hoar has completed more than $920 million in K-12 and higher education projects across the country over the past five years. The firm also has an established presence in Chattanooga, with recent projects including the 30,200-square-foot Rhea County Higher Education Center for Chattanooga State Community College in Dayton, Tennessee, and the expansion and renovation of the football and athletic facility at McKenzie Arena at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
