Oak Hall Students Sign Beams for Two New Gymnasiums

Students at Oak Hall School in Gainesville grabbed Sharpies and hard hats Thursday to sign their names on steel beams that will become part of two new gymnasiums. The beam-signing ceremony marked a major milestone in the school's "Two Spaces. One Vision" campaign launched last October.

The ambitious project includes two separate gyms designed for different age groups. The Upper School facility spans 21,000 square feet and will feature three basketball courts, a lobby, restrooms, and a weight room for middle and high school students.

The Lower School gym measures 6,000 square feet with one full-size court for preschool through fifth grade students. Associate Head of School Karin Montini says both gyms share similar designs but differ in size to meet each group's needs.

Lower School students gathered under their covered court to sign a gray steel beam in marker before crews lifted it into place. Meanwhile, seventh graders added their signatures to beams at the Upper School site, joining most middle and high school students who had already signed earlier.

Scherer Construction broke ground on both facilities in December 2025, just two months after the campaign launched. The project reflects years of planning to enhance athletic programs and create multipurpose spaces for school gatherings, performances, and community events.

The Ripple Effect

The new gymnasiums will serve far beyond basketball practice. Both facilities are designed as flexible community spaces where students can develop leadership skills, participate in wellness programs, and gather for school-wide events.

The project strengthens opportunities for collaboration across all grade levels. Students who signed those beams will see their names overhead for years, a daily reminder that they were part of building something bigger than themselves.

Construction is running close to schedule despite minor weather delays. Montini says the team hopes to complete both gyms shortly after the next school year begins, with a grand opening planned once final touches are complete.

"It's such an exciting time for the school," Montini told reporters as students lined up with markers. "To see ground broken and beams going up, and have our students involved, is such a huge thing."