It’s only a matter of weeks before the sound of basketballs bouncing off a fresh hardwood court will echo through the new multipurpose gymnasium at Warrenton High School.

Just how soon the facility will be ready is dependant on humidity levels that impact the surface beneath the court. Currently, crews are waiting for the humidity levels to decrease in the concrete floor, so the playing surface can be laid over it. That time line is an unpredictable one.

“We’d like to get it down to 85 percent, and right now we’re at 92 or 93,” said Superintendent Dr. Aaron Jones. “Unless we decide to put a thicker vapor (barrier) down, which costs more money, we can’t put the wood floor over it. That’s the process we’re in now.”

There are alternatives if the humidity levels do not drop. If it stays in the mid-90s it could cost the district an additional $13,000. If it falls between 87 and 90 percent humidity, it would be considerably cheaper and below that would add no cost for the district. It’s a topic the R-III board will discuss during its monthly meeting on Thursday.

“The cure time for the concrete is 60 days minimum,” said Jones. “That date will be Nov. 21, and that’s when we’ll do our next reading. That will be the point at which the board will decide to spend more money and put a thicker barrier down if needed.”

In an effort to expedite the process, doors are being kept shut and heaters are being used to draw moisture out of the surface.

The anticipation would be that the facility would be ready for use by the coming of the second semester. In the meantime, crews are focusing on other details of the building.

“The concession stand area should be pretty well complete in the next couple of weeks,” said Jones. “Many of the details of the project are close to done.”

The concession stand will be accessible from both the inside and outside, making it functional for events on the fields or the new court. The facility will also have restrooms accessible from inside and out.

New athletic features include a wrestling practice room and upstairs area that will house batting cages and serve as additional practice space for outdoor teams during inclement weather.

Crews are also completing the installation of the elevator that initially was a source of delay when a new purchase was needed to replace an oversight in the early planning.

The completion date for Warrenton High School's new multipurpose gymnasium will depend on how long it takes the floor's concrete to cure. School officials hope hardwood flooring will be laid by the second semester of the school year. Record photo/ Derrick Forsythe.