Many students find great amusement in the comparison of Aragon to a jail. However, with a new gym, locker room, biotech wing, and stunning new theater underway, the school seems to be shaping up and outgrowing its poor aesthetic reputation.
Although the new changes will prove beneficial in the coming years, the construction complicates the lives of students and faculty alike. “The new changes for Aragon were requested about two years ago and they plan to be finished by October at the latest,” noted Assistant Principal Mahood. Aragon freshman Catherine O’Brien stated, “I think the new buildings are more trouble than they are worth. The smell of tar in the morning is very unpleasant and not having access to the locker rooms is crazy. The construction should not have taken place during school hours.” However, she admits, “Overall I feel like the revisions are awesome, but it would be a lot more convenient to achieve remodeling over summer.”
However, revisions may just be what Aragon needed most to improve its aesthetic reputation. As far as physical appearance goes, O’Brien says, “All the glass work looks pretty cool.” Mahood credits the architect for the new glasswork and the natural light it has brought into the hallway in the lower level alongside the pool. He says, “These changes were conceptualized by both myself and Mrs. Kurtz.”
When O’Brien was asked of her opinion regarding the school having a “jail-like” structure, she retorted, “School feels like a jail, so why not call it by its name.” In the past Aragon’s grey slates for walls have been a particular eyesore, so many hope that the new glasswork and other aesthetic improvements such as additional plants around center court will improve reputation and attitude.
New buildings may also help. Freshman Sarah Nelson says, “The construction is a good thing because hopefully by next year we will get a new gym and theater to use!” Nelson feels that “It’s starting to look better with the new opened windows and it will definitely look a lot better when the gym and theater are all done.”
Currently without a gym facility or locker rooms, P.E. classes have been limited, with students compelled to share the field between as many as three classes per period. However, this temporary sacrifice may reap lasting rewards in the future. Mahood says, “All the P.E. teachers had a say in the new design of the locker rooms and [the] new North Gym. The roof of the North Gym will also have opaque glass to allow natural lighting, and the girls locker rooms are being gutted because they are over 50 years old.” He adds, “Mr. Smuin, Mr. Martin and Mr. Davis were a big help in discussing the design of the new theater along with many consultants. The theater contains an original design, not modeled after any other theater specifically.”
These new developments at Aragon, while having a negative impact in the short run, may ultimately change the “jail-like” reputation that has surrounded Aragon for so long. The disruptive construction makes it difficult to see the light at the end of the tunnel, but the end of the tunnel will certainly be lighter.
