Wakefield School in The Plains will host the Grand Opening of its new $2.4 million athletic facility on Friday, February 18, at 2:45 pm. The inaugural celebration will include music, speeches, alumni guests, and the untying of a gigantic ribbon spanning the length of the 9,000 square foot maple floor of the new gym.

The new 17,000 square foot athletic building comprises the gym, a fitness center, and a training room, as well as athletic offices and space for concessions. It is Wakefield's first fully athletically-focused building, the original gym having been designed from the start as a multipurpose room.

The new facility is the third new building project Wakefield has undertaken since moving to its campus in The Plains in 1996, into the building that now serves as the Lower School. The new Upper School building was completed in November of 1999 and an Arts and Music building in spring of 2002.

The afternoon dedication will immediately precede the gym's maiden basketball games, the final regular season competitions of the year, against Quantico. Both the girls' varsity game at 4:00 p.m. and the boys' varsity game at 5:00 p.m. will feature the traditional Senior Recognition ceremonies honoring senior members of the teams, competing at home for the last time, and their parents.