The Soldotna Field House is beginning to take shape. On Tuesday, Aug. 27, passersby caught their first glimpses of the project’s full size and scope as steel beams, supports, and a superstructure were being installed.
“It’s day one of a steel erection. We’ve had the foundation poured here for a little while, kind of waiting for all the structural steel to show up on-site,” said Criterion Project Superintendent Zack Packer. “We’re just putting up the main structure. We’ve got mezzanine columns we’ve got to put up. We’ve got to get everything sheered and connected, and then we’ll start hanging rafters as soon as we can here later in the week.”
According to Packer, once that part is done, Criterion will begin interior project work while shooting for a Spring 2025 target time to turn things over to the City of Soldotna to complete the field house.
“We’ll be working on the inside throughout the winter to get it turned over before summer,” said Packer.
Interior work will include the construction of a mezzanine, flooring, lighting, plumbing, and more, but Packer says the project will be roughly halfway done once the structure is fully enclosed later this year.
That’s good news, as many in the central peninsula are primed to use the new facility. Youth, middle, and high school sports coaches are already dreaming of the ways they’ll be able to keep their summer sports athletes conditioned through the winter; community members have plans for myriad uses like adult sports leagues, and many are just eager for a chance to exercise on an indoor track or field.
In Sept. 2023, the Soldotna City Council authorized the City Manager to enter into a contract with Criterion General Inc. to aid in the construction of the Soldotna Field House.
Initial construction cost analysis in late 2023 showed the project was significantly over budget and that several design features would need to be tabled, including the connector atrium intended to run between the existing Soldotna Regional Sports Complex and the planned field house. However, a favorable bid from Criterion allowed room in the budget to begin adding back features that had been cut.
Most of the items added back in were smaller design scope additions totaling less than an estimated $500k. They included audio/video elements, programming equipment, downgraded and decreased-area flooring options, and sound attenuation panels.
However, the big item cut from the pre-bid budget that council members were especially interested in seeing added back to the project is the atrium connector. This connection was designed as a foyer and “pre-function” area to serve both the Field House and conference rooms included in the pre-bid draft. It also included restrooms and staff efficiencies. Currently, there will not be a connector in place when the Field House first opens, but plans to add one at a later date are still on the table.
The Soldotna Field House is projected to open in the fall of 2025.
