Existing facility to be demolished while design for new facility is underway

The HISD Board of Education unanimously approved during Thursday’s monthly meeting the motion to fast-track the construction of a new Delmar-Tusa Fieldhouse by demolishing the existing facility while design for the new facility is underway. The goal is to have the site ready for construction as soon as possible and complete the replacement facility by late 2016.

The Delmar-Tusa Fieldhouse, located at the athletic complex at 2020 Mangum Road, adjacent to the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center, was built in 1958 and is currently in poor condition with major roof leaks, flooding problems in the locker rooms and a sports medicine area that falls short of athletic league standards.

“HISD desperately needs a new fieldhouse so that our students can compete with teams from across the Houston area in a setting that is safe and up to standard,” said Marmion Dambrino, HISD’s athletics director. “By moving forward with the demolition now, we’ll be ensuring that we move as quickly as possible to build this new facility once the design is completed.”

While demolition is underway, the district will move many, if not all, scheduled events to the Mark Anthony Wilkins Pavilion located on the Forest Brook Middle School Campus at 7525 Tidwell Road. The final sporting events at Delmar-Tusa Fieldhouse will be played on Sept. 24. Football games will not be affected.

Voters in November 2012 authorized the Board of Education to spend $44.7 million to improve district athletic facilities.

On May 9, HISD trustees voted to authorize the district to negotiate a contract with PBK Sports to design a new fieldhouse at the athletic complex. Meetings have been underway with the architects, administrators and athletic personnel to develop a design for a facility that will serve the district’s needs.