Germantown Academy gets ready for the future with the construction of a new Health and Wellness Center as well as other marvelous plans
As the new school year starts, so does the GA campus. Over the summer, Germantown Academy started construction on a new Health and Wellness Center. This new center is set to provide facilities for our community’s health and general well-being.
The center will include a 25,000 square foot fitness center with two very large, multifunctional wellness rooms for meditation and mindfulness. The new center will provide easier access to the nurses’ offices, which will be on the main floor, making many injured students’ recoveries easier. Other small additions to the center include an upgraded concession stand, elevator, and a new showcase for GA athletic history. When construction comes to an end, the Health and Wellness Center will be connected to the Middle and Upper School through a hallway in the big gym.
Mr. Rich Schellhas, Head of School, recently talked about the project at an Upper School Morning Meeting. When asked how the center will contribute to GA, he said, “I think it will be aimed at having students better understand the connection between the minds and bodies.” Previously, GA has not had any designated spaces for yoga and meditation; with these new additions, gym classes can facilitate a variety of activities that will involve these new classrooms.
Mr. Schellhas continued by saying, “This wellness center will meet the needs for every student, from bench pressing 300 lb to doing simple weight training, to make sure the center feels welcoming to everyone.” The new center is a place for everyone, no matter their athletic ability, from non-athletes to future D1 sports players.
Mr. Schellhas also says he envisions “A community and common space for students in the Upper School that will be a smaller version of the pavilion. It will be a gathering space for the night of a game, and a space where we can interact and get something tasty at the concession stand.” The Health and Wellness Center is set to be done and ready to be used by all GA students and faculty on Sept. 1, 2023.
Looking towards the future, Mr. Schellhas has affirmed that there will most likely be other new projects to make our campus a better space for all students. Mr. Schellhas said, “We are looking into redoing the childcare center building and the lower school playgrounds. We are also looking into building a new pool and art center, but we need to sustain the school through endowment to make sure it’s still standing in the future.” He added that squash courts might be added as well.
All of these additions will further student engagement and camaraderie at GA. Go Patriots!