Construction at the LHHS MAC
Lake Highlands High was the last to begin construction of its indoor MAC (Multipurpose Activity Center), but progress is becoming more visible with every passing day. Crews waited to match up the MAC construction timeline with the school’s expansion project, which will add much-needed classrooms and link the Lake Highlands Freshman Center (building “H”) with LHHS (building “L”). Construction of MACs at RISD’s Berkner, Pearce and Richardson High began months ago.
The MAC, which was funded by the 2017 bond and will be used by kids participating in football, soccer, marching band, drill team, Wranglers and other student groups, will be particularly useful in very hot, very cold and rainy weather, and will be located north of LHHS and east of LHFC where athletic teams formerly practiced outdoors.
“This is exciting for us,” says Wildcat Athletic Director Lonnie Jordan. “We’re happy to see this progress.”
Jordan admits he and fellow coaches enjoy watching the contractors do their thing.
“They’ve got the prep done, and they’ve got concrete trucks and dirt movers out there. I’m a bit of a construction nerd, and the supervisor is an awesome guy. I feel like he’s my buddy. He takes the time to explain what they’re doing to me. Sometimes we have to shoo the coaches back to their classrooms.”
With the Lake Highlands Family Aquatic Center being built across the street, the LHHS expansion and the MAC, construction crews are busy all over campus every day.
“Even the kids – it’s fun for them, too. Although, I admit it gets a little more challenging every day,” says Jordan. “There are so many people involved. When things really start happening and you can see progress, [the inconveniences] are a little more palatable.”
The construction supervisor predicts completion sometime between mid-December of 2019 and March of 2020.
Until then, the Wildcats are preparing for the annual Red-White Game, which brings the community together for football and fellowship. The event is scheduled for Friday, May 17 at 6 p.m. at Wildcat Stadium. The marching band, Highlandettes, cheerleaders and Bell Boys will participate, and the Exchange Club will host their annual Hot Dog Cookout on the field after the game.
Also, the 2019 varsity football schedule is hot off the presses, and the Wildcats will host McKinney Boyd in a scrimmage Aug. 23. We’ll play Mesquite at Hanby Stadium on Aug. 30, Plano East in the Cotton Bowl Showcase on Sept. 6, Haltom at Wildcat Stadium on Sept. 13, Skyline at Forester on Sept. 27, Berkner at Wildcat Stadium on Oct. 4, Duncanville at Duncanville on Oct. 11, W.T. White for Homecoming on Oct. 18, Pearce at Wildcat Stadium on Oct. 25, Molina at Kincaid on Nov. 1 and Richardson at Wildcat Stadium on Nov. 8. Go Cats!
MAC rendering
