The unveiling of the state-of-the-art field house at Oak Lawn Community High School took place on Oct. 15 as local officials proclaimed it a day of celebration for the community.
“Oak Lawn is a great place to raise a family and a great place to go to school,” said Shahe Bagdasarian, superintendent of Oak Lawn Community High School District 229.
A large crowd gathered for the grand opening and tour of the new field house. The ceremony took place between the field house and the Performing Arts Center, which opened eight years ago. On hand for the celebration were students, faculty, village officials, parents and community members.
The Oak Lawn High School band and choir also performed at the celebration.
District 229 officially approved the construction of the field house in December 2024. The field house is connected to the south end of the campus building along 95th Street.
The field house was built with $21.6 million from a bond issue along with money the district had saved over the years for capital improvement projects.
Jeremey Cryan, the school athletic director, said that with the addition of the field house they can now better serve students in 27 athletic programs.
“We have more room to grow and you have a school that you can be proud of,” Cryan said during the ceremony. “This will provide opportunities for the next generation of Oak Lawn High School students.”
The $40 million field house includes multipurpose courts for basketball, volleyball, and other sports. An indoor track is also available.
Next to the field house is a weight room for strength training equipment for student athletes. An area for fitness space for cardio and group exercise will also be available.
“This has been a 14-year journey,” said Robert Loehr, the Oak Lawn High School Board president. “It wasn’t in the cards at the time. Other things had to be taken care of. But now for our student athletes, this program was made for you.”
Maggie Mitchell, a senior who has played volleyball all four years at the school, said this is a major upgrade for the athletic program.
“This will be a place where student athletes can develop friendships and develop bonds that will last forever,” Mitchell said.
Dr. Laura May, who has served as principal for Oak Lawn High School for the past two years, said this is a momentous occasion.
“What excites me most is that we have a beautiful facility for years to come,” May said. “This will open up new opportunities. Today is a great day to be a Spartan.”
Mike Lundquist, the new assistant superintendent, thanked Bagdasarian for his efforts. He also mentioned that his predecessor, Michael Riordan, had a major impact on getting the field house completed. He also thanked Joseph McCurdy, who retired earlier this year as the assistant superintendent, for all his years of hard work.
Loehr took part in the ribbon cutting and was joined by several other board members. Mayor Terry Vorderer also attended the ceremony and open house, along with trustees Benjamin Warren (1st), Alex Olejniczak (2nd), and Paul Mallo (3rd).
Vorderer toured the field house and weight room and was impressed with what he saw.
“It’s really something, isn’t it,” he said. “It’s an investment in the community and helps bring young families to Oak Lawn.”
