Hollister, Calif., Oct. 7, 2019 – The San Benito High School District (SBHSD) recently celebrated the completion of three new athletics facilities to support San Benito High School’s (SBHS) top-tier athletics program. The Physical Education & Athletics Stadium, Softball Field Complex and Aquatics Complex were all built by San Jose-based Blach Construction (Blach), a long-time partner to SBHSD. Spanning 12 acres of new construction, the three projects were completed within the ambitious one-year schedule, providing SBHS’s more than 3,000 students and growing population of athletes with state-of-the-art spaces and high-performance equipment. The field facilities were designed by Aedis Architects, while Arch Pac Aquatics designed the pools.
“The entire Hollister community is thrilled to have these truly exceptional and collegiate-level athletics facilities at San Benito High. Not only are they an inspiring venue for athletes to compete, they offer all students, staff, parents and spectators an ideal place to gather – and Blach was instrumental in making it all possible,” said SBHSD Superintendent Shawn Tennenbaum. “Their positive and professional attitudes, tireless efforts and dedication to delivering superior quality facilities on time and on budget were unprecedented. I can’t think of a better partner for our school community.”
SBHS’s new 370,000-square-foot Physical Education & Athletics Stadium was named in honor of revered teacher and coach Andy Hardin and comprises an all-weather track, high-performance turf field, LED stadium lights and pre-engineered bleachers that can accommodate up to 3,900 people. Further enhancing the stadium are its collegiate-quality press box, concessions building, ticket booth, restrooms and locker rooms. The scoreboard, a nod to SBHS’s history, and from the original Andy Hardin Stadium, was preserved, wireless-enabled and reinstalled as a marquee at the edge of the new track.
Adjacent to the Andy Hardin Stadium is SBHS’s new 65,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art Softball Field Complex. Featuring cutting-edge softball field equipment and a backstop with custom netting and wood baseboards, the Haybaler softball team also enjoys a double batting cage with two net tunnels, single and double bullpens, a clay pitching mound and a Daktronics wireless soundboard.
Rounding out SBHS’s robust athletics program is its new 86,000-square-foot Aquatics Complex featuring two stainless steel Myrtha pools and a large surrounding pool deck that houses equipment for swim meets and water polo matches. To accommodate spectators, Blach also installed new bleachers and two synthetic turf areas on opposite ends of each pool, as well as LED stadium lights. Two modular buildings were also installed by SBHSD as part of the complex that contain locker rooms, restrooms and office space.
In line with SBHSD’s dedication to environmentally-conscious practices, Blach utilized sustainable materials whenever possible. The turf is composed of non-toxic sand and cork; energy-efficient LED lights consume up to 90 percent less power than incandescent bulbs; and, the Italian-made stainless steel Myrtha pools reduce Greenhouse Gas emissions by as much as 45 percent.
“It is extremely gratifying for Blach to be an extension of the SBHSD team. We feel at home working on this campus and are proud that our collaborative partnership once again has resulted in multiple, successful projects – this time advancing Hollister’s robust athletics programs,” said Keith Craw, vice president of operations for Blach Construction. “To meet the ambitious timeline during one of the wettest winters on record, we utilized all efficiencies possible and leveraged several resources that are local to the South County, ensuring these first-class facilities were completed on time. Our team looks forward to catching some games and events at San Benito High this year and we’ll be cheering the students on with a huge sense of pride!”
About San Benito High School District
Founded in 1875, San Benito High School District (SBHSD) is located 40 miles south of the Silicon Valley and serves more than 3,000 students in Hollister, California. Its self-named high school, the only high school in the district, is committed to helping all students discover a passion for learning and reach their full potential.
All stakeholders on campus work together to encourage, support, and guide student growth. As volunteers, committee members, decision-makers, and advocates for their children and the school, community members also play an active role in the success of San Benito High students.
In order to help students prepare for the demands of college, early careers, the military and/or trade school, SBHSD provides a rigorous and relevant curriculum. Additionally, the school is highly inclusionary of English language learners and students with special educational needs, offering the necessary support as they transition into mainstream classes.
In an effort to build relevant skills for a global economy, SBHSD supports the use of technology as a critical, 21st century education tool. Beginning in the fall of 2017, flexible and innovative classrooms were created to provide staff and students an increased opportunity to enhance the teaching and learning processes.
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