THE newly commissioned Andrew ‘Sixhead’ Lewis Boxing Gymnasium boasts a full-size competition ring, among the modern pieces of equipment housed in the new facility.
During Saturday’s opening ceremony, architect Maximillian Perreira told Chronicle Sport that the ring area was originally designed to accommodate a smaller training ring.
“There was no more space to make the building wider. It is the maximum size the plot could accommodate, after allowing the mandatory space from the boundary stipulated by building statutes.”
The training ring is five metres wide, while the competition size is six. However, mini-tournaments could be staged there accommodating about 100 persons, as was envisaged during the planning stages.
“I agree with a full-size ring. You cannot train in a smaller ring then fight in a full-size one,” Perreira pointed out.
But ventilation may be a problem because the designer had put lattice-work for the ring area, while the contractor used ventilation concrete blocks which do not offer full flow of air. Several fans have been installed to circulate the air, but the room was still hot during the opening exhibition bouts.
Another departure from the building plan is the height of the ceiling, which seems to be lower than the 11 feet in the design. That may, also, contribute to the poor circulation when many persons are in the room.
The ring area could accommodate a table tennis board and now has a state-of-the-art multi-purpose exercise machine.
At the northern end of the ground floor, there is an office, and opposite it there are a staff washroom and a storeroom.
South of the ring area, there are two storing areas, a changing room and baths, and opposite them at the eastern side, a dining area and kitchen.
Three Everlast punching bags are hung in the external training area at the back, which was in use before the gym was officially opened.
There is some yard space with a water system constructed at the western side. The water system consists of a reservoir tank at ground level from which an electric pump fills another tank at the top of a concrete trestle.
Upstairs, there are a self-contained caretaker’s apartment, a lecture room and a dormitory - one large room that could accommodate six bunks for 12 persons. Opposite the dormitory, there are a storeroom, a linen store, laundry room and bathrooms.
Initially the caretaker’s apartment was at the northern part of the building, with a coaches’ suite between it and the dormitory. The caretaker’s apartment will be converted to the library and lecture room and the coaches’ suite becomes the caretaker’s apartment.
Thus apart from routine training, teams or out-of-city athletes could be encamped there.
The building is 77 feet long and 25 feet wide, with another 25 feet for the training area. There is the mandatory six feet from the boundary.
Phyllis Bacchus was the engineer and the contractor Alex Mahaica.
The street leading to the gym was lately asphalted as well as a large area north of the building, which could be used for volleyball and basketball.