LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. – What used to be a dusty, forgotten corner of the Los Alamitos High School campus is now a state-of-the-art gymnasium suited for not just student athletes, but the Griffin community as a whole. The Griffin Center, the newest addition to LAHS, was officially dedicated on Aug. 27 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and an open house for the public. A project that was nearly seven years in the making, the Griffin Center has finally opened with the goal to make a lasting, positive impact on the school for good.

Cutting the red ribbon on the Griffin Center

To kick off the opening of the new gym, members of the Los Alamitos Unified School District Board of Education, LAHS administration, representatives from construction companies and others gave opening remarks on the project’s uniqueness and expressed gratitude for the community’s support over the years. The immense gym that stood tall behind the speakers at the podium reminded everyone of the amount of involvement and dedication to the Griffin community. 

In his opening remarks, LAUSD superintendent Dr. Andrew Pulver described how the new gym will greatly benefit the student body, ranging from the new workout equipment to the amount of space available in the huge building for teams to utilize. 

Marlys Davidson, president of the LAUSD Board of Education, shared her gratitude to the LAHS community for its unwavering support throughout the Griffin Center project, from its initial funding and planning to its construction process and final steps. 

“This is a community that always shows up,” said Mrs. Davidson in her speech. “(This gym) is a symbol of what happens when a community listens and responds (to students).”

After more remarks from project members such as PariSima Hassani of Westgroup Designs and Justin Sinnott from Erickson-Hall Construction, Dr. Pulver and LAUSD welcomed the audience to the Griffin Center with a final ribbon-cutting ceremony at the front of the gym. Then, the doors were opened, and eager members of the community stepped into the brand-new facility for the first time.

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LAHS Song and Cheer members welcome community members and event guests through the gates to the Griffin Center. (Photo courtesy of Nichole Pichardo)

Touring the Griffin Center

After the welcoming speeches and ribbon-cutting ceremony, the event transitioned into a public open house so that families, students, and all members of the community could tour the new gym and see all that it had to offer in person. 

Stepping into the building, guests were instantly amazed by the modern, state-of-the-art design and construction, as well as the fresh, clean appearance of the facility both inside and out. Compared to the old LAHS gym, the Griffin Center is a monumental step above what many LAHS students are used to.

“It’s definitely such a big change from the old gym, and it’s definitely nicer, cleaner, and I like it a lot,” said LAHS freshman Peyton Ellis, who plays JV volleyball. “There’s definitely more room (and) it’s very spacious. That makes our life so much easier.”

Students, families and other event-goers were given full access to the Griffin Center so they could wander and explore its many rooms as they pleased. During the open house event, community members were introduced to the Griffin Center’s front entrance lobby, three-court gym, weight room, team rooms, and more for the first time. 

“This building is gorgeous,” Los Alamitos Education Foundation executive director Carrie Logue said. “I’m impressed, because it’s not just a gym…it’s a place for the community to come together.” 

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Faviana Sophy

In the main gym, three full-sized playing courts are hidden beneath retractable bleachers that can seat up to 2,000 people.

One of the Griffin Center’s key features is its main gymnasium, built to easily accommodate large numbers with its huge retractable bleachers and multiple playing courts. With this design in mind, LAUSD staff and others hope that the new facility can be used for many purposes. For instance, not only were LAHS students excited about using the new gym for their athletic practices, but also for school assemblies, sports games and other events. 

“I love (the new gym), and it’s so beautifully designed,” said LAHS ASB member Demania Ibrahim. “I’m really excited for the assemblies and all the new games, especially the basketball games. Imagine how loud it would be… the echo is gonna be amazing!”

Students have also shared that the brand-new team rooms, the tall roof of the gym, and the availability of workout equipment were their favorite parts of the Griffin Center, and that it will elevate their athletic experience at LAHS.

“There’s just so much more room, and we get pulled-down tarps to divide the three courts. That’s just way better. The locker rooms (are also) so nice; it kind of looks like it’s a (Division I) college locker room,” sophomore Sadie Sauvao, who plays volleyball, said.

LAUSD board president Mrs. Davidson expressed hope that the new gym will improve sports practice schedules across the LAHS athletics department. She believes the Griffin Center will be able to finally provide enough space for the numerous student-athletes at LAHS to practice and play with ease. 

“It bothered me that kids were getting in cars at eight, nine o’clock at night to go to practice, or be here at six or five in the morning to go to practice. So this is going to be a much more stable existence (with the new gym),” Mrs. Davidson said. 

Many families and students stayed the entire open house, taking in the vastness of the new gym, its brand-new features, and imagining what it would be like to use the facility in the future. Once the sun went down, event-goers could stand outside to see the building illuminated by its Griffin logo sign and massive windows that made the Griffin Center glow. 

After the open house on Aug. 27, LAHS students immediately began to use the gym, with sports practices and games already in full swing within the walls of the brand-new facility. Having just been finished at the end of August, students can look forward to using the new gym for the entire 2025-2026 school year and beyond. After all, the Griffin Center will set the stage for a new chapter of LAHS, its students and the community for decades to come.