Lufkin High School’s new multipurpose facility should be finished in 14 to 18 months, according to Principal Brandon Boyd.

The access road behind the LHS football practice fields and tennis courts has been shut down for construction of the facility, which is being built behind the Abe Martin Stadium scoreboard. Crews are building a new parking lot on which to put the materials to build the facility, Boyd said.

“They are leveling the ground to lay the foundation,” he said. “Next month we should be able to see some walls go up.”

The facility will house a gymnasium that will be home to the LHS basketball and volleyball teams, who have been playing at Panther Gymnasium on the Lufkin Middle School campus for the past three decades. The facility will hold around 2,000 people, giving the high school more room for students and staff to watch a game or performance.

“Having two courts, you will be able to watch one game and walk through to another game,” Boyd said.

He said the facility will be one of the nicest gymnasiums in East Texas.