The Bernards High School lower gym is undergoing a drastic transformation, and as the school year gets underway, construction has begun on the gym’s flooring.
Funding for the project is coming from an anonymous donation worth $50,000 directed towards the lower gym that was approved and accepted by the board in the spring of the 2024-25 school year. The project is expected to be completed prior to the start of basketball season despite construction not beginning until September. The donation was specifically directed towards upgrades for the lower gym.
The renovations will be completed ahead of basketball season, but early progress has Mr. Hoppe hoping the project will conclude by the middle of October.
The Somerset Hills Board of Education is hoping to add new bleachers to the space as part of the 2026 Referendum to finish the transformation. The fresh bleachers would be plastic with red and gray coloring, rather than the current wooden bleachers.. Bernards High has also ordered a protective floor covering that will sit on top of the flooring for occasions in which the gym is not in use.
The design of the court, modeled after Pingry’s home court, has a lighter finish that is expected to improve the lighting in the gym. The new design will also get rid of the red keys under each basket with a darker wood finish. The other major difference is the logo at center court; rather than having a basketball at midcourt, the updated Bernards athletics logo will represent allof the teams to take the court.
Some lightbulbs in the gym were replaced last winter, but BHS’ athletic director Mr. Hoppe noted that “The lighting is going to appear to be new because of the lighter finish” giving the court a sleeker look. Basketball player Brendan Sharkey ‘27 says “I’m very excited for the new lower gym, I think the court will look very professional and it will improve the quality of practices and games.”
The student council has also had to alter their planning for the annual pep rally due to the renovations. Members of the council believe the project will be finished roughly a week in advance of the rally, but the entertainment for the event has been altered due to concerns of damaging the new flooring
When talking to Mr. Hoppe about why the court is being redone, he stated that “Out of the top 10 things I wanted to accomplish in the athletic office. This was probably number three.”
The initial contractors the school was in talks with were not going to be able to begin the project until December, but a second company pushed the start date forward by three months. The lower gym is typically home to gym classes at BHS, but those are being held in the upper gym for the time being. When complete, the gym classes will report back to the lower gym.
The new gym will first be in use in a game setting on December 16th when the boys basketball team plays their first home game against Somerville. Meanwhile, the girls basketball team will host their first game on the new court on December 18th against Warren Hills Regional High School.
