MORROW, Ga. – In a multi-tiered project unlike any in program history, Clayton State Athletics has begun an extensive renovation of The Loch that includes new locker rooms for each team, a student-athlete lounge and a complete reconstruction of both the lobby and athletic training facilities.
 
Constructed in 1981, The Loch has been the home of the Lakers since the inception of the program in 1990 and is undergoing its first renovation in its nearly 40-year existence. Funded in large part by the University System of Georgia (USG) as part of its "Academic Core", the overall project also includes significant work on the Library, Arts & Sciences building, Lecture Hall and Magnolia Hall.
 
The Athletics portion of the renovation will take place in three areas simultaneously as the new locker room area, lobby and athletic training facility will be converted with an expected completion date prior to November 2018. The locker room area demolition began on April 12 while the remaining parts of the project will take place beginning on May 7 following Spring Commencement.
 
Each of Clayton State's 11 teams will have their own dedicated locker room that will include upgraded fixtures and furniture to go along with a television monitor and storage space. In addition to these amenities, the Lakers will have a student-athlete lounge that will contain comfortable seating, a large television monitor, video games, multiple charging stations for their devices, storage space and a snack center
 
In conjunction with the construction in this area, Sports Medicine will utilize the record $60,000 donation in September of 2016 from OrthoAtlanta to create a first-rate athletic training facility. That will include a much larger space featuring a "wet area" for the hot tub and ice machine as well as new athletic training offices and a dedicated storage area. In that same end of the building will also be two new offices and one of two classrooms.
 
The other classroom will actually be part of the lobby renovations which will see a total makeover of that space. That will begin the week of May 7 with the demolition of the old women's basketball locker room and conversion of the old men's basketball locker room into the classroom space.
 
The existing cases that house Clayton State's most impressive trophies will be removed that same week as new free standing cases that allow for a 360-degree view will be part of the final design. Also part of that design will be a self-contained concession area, digital signage and televisions. Included with the latter will be a video wall and kiosk which can be used to view video of past hall of fame speeches or to look-up any person that played in a Laker uniform from 1990 to today.
 
Concessions will receive a major upgrade as they move from what has always been a transient operation to a brick-and-mortar facility that will feature self-contained storage and room enough for multiple people to serve fans in an expeditious manner.
 
One of the final changes will be the addition of visiting team changing rooms located directly off the gym. These will be constructed in the current footprint of the Sports Information Office and a large storage space located just off of The Loch. This will allow these teams to have a space of their own that is conveniently located while visiting the facility.
 
Throughout the entire process fans can follow all the progress through updates on www.ClaytonStateSports.com as well as Laker social media outlets. While these will often include releases, large portions of these updates will come in the form of extensive photo galleries and videos when possible. A compilation of weekly photo galleries, that will be updated several times each week, is currently available under the Facilities section on the website.

These renovations are much needed and will continue to empower our staff, coaches and student-athletes to continue to build upon our history of excellence and will transform the face of Clayton State Athletics.

NOTE
Clayton State Athletics' host of summer camps will go on as scheduled with minor interruption to standard operation to ensure a safe and fun environment during this time of transition. Full details of both the schedule of camps and any changes to the procedures for items such as dropoff and pickup can be found directly on the Clayton State Summer Sports Camps Central page.

CURRENT RENOVATION PHOTO GALLERIES