MOSES LAKE — After years of fundraising and preparation, the exterior walls of the new gym at the Moses Lake Christian Academy will be going up soon. Crews finished pouring the building’s concrete slab Thursday.

Glenn Knopp, MLCA board chair, said the walls should start going up within the next two to three weeks, with the goal of completing the exterior by late October. Over the winter “we’ll be doing all the inside work,” Knopp said.

“As funds allow. We still have to raise money,” said board vice-chair Fred Meise.

The new gym will seat about 500 people when it’s finished. The total project cost was estimated at about $1.3 million.

Academy officials started raising money for the project in 2015. Officials purchased the exterior metal shell in 2018, and prep work for the foundation was completed in late February. But the COVID-19 outbreak delayed work on the project, Mise said.

When it’s completed the building will house the gym, locker rooms, concession stand and coaching offices. Knopp said the site is designed so classrooms can be added between the gym and elementary school if necessary.

Academy officials still need to purchase a gym floor, which Knopp estimated would cost about $500,000 to $600,000.

The academy has access to a gym, but not on campus. “The school needs it,” Meise said. When it’s finished the gym will be available for public rental, which will help alleviate the shortage of gym space in town, Knopp said. “Another gym for the community,” Meise said.

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at cschweizer@columbiabasinherald.com.