River Bend Community Unit School District #2 has once again partnered with Veregy to embark on a comprehensive $12 million Gymnasium Addition at the River Bend Middle School. As signage across the campus is added to signify the beginning of construction, an official groundbreaking is set for Monday, September 14 at 5 pm at the River Bend Middle School. Substantial project completion is scheduled for Fall 2027.
This project marks the seventh major initiative that the District has contracted with Veregy to execute over their long-standing partnership. Building on the momentum from extensive community outreach and feedback sessions held in the spring of 2025, the project addresses the District’s pressing physical fitness, academic, and facility-expansion goals.
Key Project Improvements
The scope of work for the new addition and renovations at River Bend Middle School includes:
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- New Gymnasium Addition: A complete new facility housing a competition-sized basketball court (which can be used as two full-sized practice courts), retractable hoops, retractable bleachers with seating for over 500, a fitness room, team and officials’ locker rooms, a concession area, storage, and additional parking.
- HVAC & Environmental Upgrades: Installation of four new high-efficiency rooftop HVAC units, one new unit ventilator with remote condensing unit for an existing classroom, exhaust systems, fabric ductwork, and integration into the existing Building Automation System (BAS).
- Plumbing & Fixtures: Modernized plumbing systems, including new water closets, lavatories, mop receptors, electric water coolers, a gas water heater with recirculation, and connections to municipal utilities.
- Electrical & Lighting Enhancements: High-efficiency interior and exterior LED lighting, exterior pole lighting for expanded parking areas, power distribution upgrades, and power connections for athletic equipment.
- Safety, Security & Technology: Integration of CAT-6 cabling for security cameras, key fob access readers, Wi-Fi access points, new Public Address (PA) systems, a gym sound system, and an updated NFPA-compliant fire sprinkler and fire alarm system.
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Improvements Driven by Community Feedback and District Goals
The project scope reflects direct input gathered during the District’s 2025 Community Feedback events. Through these events, district leadership and community members identified top priorities to support student development and community wellness:
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- Physical Fitness & Athletics: Addressing the critical shortage of gymnasium space, providing daily physical education opportunities for Kindergarten through 8th grade, adding multipurpose fitness and training areas, and creating dedicated facilities to host regional athletic competitions.
- Academic & Facility Needs: Creating indoor walking space for students, staff, and community members, relieving shared space constraints, and optimizing school infrastructure for long-term growth.
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“The River Bend School District and Veregy have held a long-standing partnership where we’ve worked closely together to weigh the needs of both the District as well as the overall needs of the community. For instance, in evaluating the needs of this latest project, we worked with River Bend to host Community Feedback events in the spring and summer of 2025. During these events, we proposed three overall District improvement scenarios for evaluation and comment. Community members submitted surveys in which they could provide feedback on options and provide extensive comments on the future of the District’s facilities. All of that feedback was reviewed, considered, and weighed against potential options to come to a final decision that best serves students, athletes, staff, and residents alike.”
– Michele James, Senior Account Manager at Veregy.Â
“River Bend, along with Veregy, have successfully completed a number of projects over the years. We look forward to our continued partnership and are excited to bring this new gym space to our community.”
– Kelli J. Parsons, River Bend Superintendent
