The Manhattan Beach Unified School District (MBUSD) on Friday held a ground-breaking ceremony for construction of the new athletic complex at Mira Costa High School. The $39 million project, funded by the successful passage of Measure EE, is expected to be completed by Fall 2020.

"This project is a testament to the community's support for the students of Manhattan Beach," MBUSD Superintendent Mike Matthews told the crowd of school district officials and community members. "It is an exciting time and we can't wait to move forward."

The new athletic complex will include a 24,000 square foot three-court gym; 1,500 square feet of sports medicine space; 4,500 square feet for strength and development; a naturally lit community pavilion gym, a 60-person classroom; a dance room; PE locker rooms and team rooms; and a terrace overlooking the track and Waller Stadium.

"This has been a long day coming, but at the same time it feels like we're coming full circle," said Mira Costa Principal Ben Dale at the ceremony.

Fisher Gym, which was named for Carl Fisher, the longest-serving principal of Mira Costa, was built shortly after Mira Costa opened its doors in 1950. It was home to generations of league, CIF, state, and national champion athletics teams; and yet it had become aged and outdated over the years. It was demolished after the last game was played there in December 2018.

"The facility we demolished had a lot of history," said Dale, "but this will always be Carl Fisher Gym. We will never lose that piece of the past."

Measure EE, a school bond measure to rebuild Mira Costa's athletics facilities, was passed by Manhattan Beach voters in November 2016.