Briarwood Christian School is currently in the process of building a new, state-of-the-art gymnasium and field house, accoring to athletic director Terry Davis.

The school, through private donations from parents, boosters and friends, raised the funds over the last two years to build a new gymnasium and to turn the existing gymnasium into a 760-plus seat theater.

&uot;Every time we have renovations, it is due to need,&uot; Davis said.

&uot;Briarwood Christian continues to grow. During the 18 years I have been here there has been a constant growth and increase in the number of students, and that growth is going to continue.&uot;

The new gymnasium will house a state-of-the-art weight room and training room for both boys and girls, according to Davis, and will also have dressing rooms for all athletic teams and visitors.

Coach’s offices will also be located in the new facility.

Davis said the gym should be complete by Spring of 2004.

He said the original plan was to have the gym up and running in time for basketball season, but there have been delays in construction.

Those delays, Davis said, were due primarily to the time it took to get some of the permits needed from the county and to rainy weather.

&uot;We have already been delayed over five weeks, so we hope we can be in the new facility by spring,&uot; davis said.

As soon as the new gymnasium is finished, the school will begin renovating the existing gym into a 760-plus seat theater.

&uot;The school has two plays per year, and those will be performed in the new theater,&uot; Davis said.

&uot;We will also have other programs such as band and choir concerts as well as assemblys in the new theater.

&uot;It should be quite a nice facility and something our students will enjoy.&uot;

Head football coach Fred Yancey said he was excited about the construction.

&uot;This will give our teams, as well as our visiting teams, a state-of-the-art facility to train in as well as dress in before athletic events,&uot; Yancy said.

&uot;I’m excited about the facilities for the athletes and the students of this school.&uot;

Davis said there will also be two or three new classrooms constructed.

The school, which, according to Davis, does not have an overcrowding problem, consists of 1,900-2,000 students from kindergarten through twelfth grade