Sunlight streams through the new WJAC roof.
By Proud Tangkaravakoon ’27
This summer, the roof of the Worthington Johnson Athletics Center (WJAC) received a revamp. The previous 30-year-old paneling that had begun deteriorating and developing leaks has now been replaced with insulated and translucent panels.
The School made the decision to use insulated translucent panels over glass ones with the goal of sustainability in mind. “The reason that it is chosen over glass is that it’s more energy efficient,” Director of Facilities Mr. Ben Szalewicz explained. “It diffuses the light, so it gives you more even light in the court, as opposed to blasting it directly from the sunlight.”
This was an improvement from last year. Prior to this summer’s renovations, the Tartan Court received very little natural light, most of which was very dingy and yellow. “It was past its useful life, so [it] was beginning to be expensive to maintain,” Mr. Szalewicz said.
During the construction process, the panels were removed one-by-one, which left holes in the roof. And so, the facilities team had to ensure that they were replacing as many panels as they were taking apart each day in the event of a storm.
The project officially began in 2022, but supply chain issues caused delays with construction until after the Class of 2023’s commencement. Choate’s Project Manager Mr. Tom Hinde led the facilities team in the undertaking alongside New Haven-based contractors at the Babbidge Construction Company.
“For the most part, it was a pretty straightforward project and stayed on budget and on schedule,” Mr. Szalewicz said. Athletic teams that train in the WJAC’s Tartan Courts will now enjoy a better quality of light.
