Construction of the Soldotna Field House is continuing apace, according to brief updates shared during a Nov. 20 meeting of the Soldotna City Council by member Jordan Chilson and Public Works Director Kyle Kornelis.
Kornelis described a visit that same morning, saying there is “significant progress” being made inside the facility — which this summer sprung up next to the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex.
“We’re framing walls, roughing in electrical, mechanical, plumbing,” he said. “The painters are in there, on giant scissor lifts for the ceiling painting. We poured concrete yesterday … we’re starting to hang Sheetrock.”
“We’re really moving along at the field house.”
The city has not indicated a set date or window for opening of the field house, though work is expected to continue for much of 2025.
Chilson also discussed the field house, citing an update from Soldotna Parks and Recreation Director Joel Todd to the Soldotna Parks and Recreation Advisory Board on Nov. 7.
At that meeting, on Nov. 7, Todd showed the group a mock design for acoustic panels that will be installed on the field house walls to suppress resonating sound. The current design will have a two-toned orange and blue design, mixing up “a lot” of white used throughout the facility.
Those panels were actually removed from the project for “a hot second,” Todd said, when there were concerns about funding.
“We knew we weren’t going to be able to open without them,” he said. “This was something we thought maybe we could add on later, on our own.”
Fortunately, Todd said, with favorable bids, the panels were able to be installed as part of the bond project.
Another shift likely being made — “not solidified, but it is most likely the route that we’re heading” — is replacing the modular plastic floor described in the original design with a wooden floor.
Todd said the product would match those used in contemporary basketball courts, and still be modular. He said the floor of the field house can be pulled up “down to concrete” for different shows and events, configured to be fully wood or fully turf, or some combination of the three.
The wood floor will be more favorable for athletes and more durable, Todd said, able to be maintained over a longer lifespan.
Recordings of both meetings are available at soldotna.org.
Reach reporter Jake Dye at jacob.dye@peninsulaclarion.com.
