Cheryl Owens / The Meridian StarLamar Raiders mascot "Raider" cheers the crowd on at Monday's ribbon cutting inside the new state-of-the-art Wellness Center and Gymnasium at Lamar School in Meridian. 

Lamar School Monday celebrated its new $2.3 million, state-of-the-art wellness center and gymnasium with a grand-opening ceremony that drew 200 guests.

A product of Lamar’s capital campaign – Invest, Inspire Impact – the new climate-controlled gymnasium will be home to Lamar’s Raider and Lady Raider basketball programs and is considered the highlight of the new building, which will seat approximately 900 fans. 

Head of School Leigh Ann Ballous said the campaign, which started three years ago, raised $1.2 million toward the $2.3 million facility.

“Construction began in January, and here we are finished 11 months later,” Ballou said. “Thanks go to our contractors and sub-contractors for working on a school schedule. They also knew how important it was for us to be able to play our first basketball game for the season in here.”

Lamar Raiders basketball coaches said the facility is the start of something great at Lamar.

“I think it will bring a lot of excitement to our  program, something that has been needed for a while,” said Charles Shaffer, boys coach. “It is just something we are really proud of.”

“This is an incredible and monumental advancement for Lamar,” said Amy Bass, girls coach. “It has already changed the culture of basketball. We are excited, the girls are excited and have bought in to what we are doing here. It’s going to be a great season.”

Senior Tate Thompson, who has played basketball at Lamar since seventh grade, said it’s a relief to have a new air-conditioned gym.

“We have been in that gym since the beginning, now we can experience a new generation, so it will be nice,” Thompson said. 

Paula Gast, a sophomore who represents “Raider” the mascot at Lamar football games, said she can’t wait to play basketball in the new gym.

“It means way more than people think,” Gast said. “I play basketball and it is such a great opportunity to have such an awesome facility, and on top of that – one with a lot of new technology.”

Adjacent to the gymnasium is a concession and snack bar area, complete with pub-style seating and live coverage of the ongoing game. Fans can also purchase their Raider gear in the Spirit Store located near the concession area.

Educational space incorporated into the building’s design utilizes 21st Century design features. A makers-space classroom, equipped with movable workstations that allow for collaboration and glass boards to enhance student product development is one part of the educational space. The larger classroom has seats for 66 participants and utilizes large-screen televisions to deliver professional training for teachers, test preparation sessions for students, and enrichment experiences for parents.

“We promote athletics, academics and the arts, and this new facility allows us to grow in the areas of basketball, as well as volleyball,” Ballou said. “In addition to that we have those classroom spaces that we will use as collaborative spaces – like the robotics club; and groups can present in those classrooms, too. It just uses different furniture from what the regular classroom looks like.”

The new construction on Lamar’s campus brought with it the creation of The Commons – a centrally located courtyard area between the new gymnasium facility and the cafetorium – a place where PK-12th grade students can come together for devotionals, guest speakers, outdoor concerts and performances, and dining. A place  dubbed the “Heart of the School.”

The first game at the gym is scheduled Nov. 29 when the Lamar Raiders host Sylva Bay Academy.