Athletic Complex Marks Milestone

A light morning drizzle did little to dampen spirits as the St. Mark’s community celebrated “topping off” the 77,000-square-foot Marksman Athletic Complex on Tuesday, April 16. Students and faculty joined Trustees, alumni, donors, and project partners to watch a crane hoist one of the final beams into place above the Athletic Complex’s central atrium. Hundreds of signatures dotted the 26-foot beam, where members of the senior class and many others added their names. 

   

Senior Class President Nolan Marcus ’24 addressed the community on behalf of the Class of 2024.   

  

“We are standing united as a community of students, faculty, staff, alumni, trustees and generous supporters,” Marcus said. “To me, this gym symbolizes everything athletics is about – getting back up in the face of adversity. It’s only fitting to have a facility fostering that sense of tenacity and representing our community’s will to never give up.” 

  

Eugene McDermott Headmaster David W. Dini then thanked the individuals who have dedicated their time and talents to the design and construction of the new facility, from the Trustees and physical education faculty to the contractors and construction workers who stood ready to install the beam.  

  

“This building was made possible by alumni, parents and friends who stepped forward with incredible leadership and generosity,” Dini said. “Six years ago, we raised the final beam on the Winn Science Center, signed by the Class of 2018. It is great to be here with the Class of 2024 and the entire School as we celebrate this incredibly important and significant milestone.” 

 

After crews connected the beam to the crane, Dini led the crowd in shouting “Raise that beam!”  

 

The Athletic Complex Project marks the final chapter of a saga that began on October 20, 2019, when an EF-3 tornado touched down in north Dallas. The Thomas O. Hicks Family Athletic Center was among the hundreds of buildings destroyed by that tornado. What followed was an unprecedented effort to not only rebuild what was lost but also strengthen St. Mark’s commitment to excellence for decades to come.  

Click here to learn more about the Athletic Complex Project.