Support Cooper
Capital Campaign
The Athletic Center - Impacting Student Fitness and Athletics
At nearly 25,000 square feet, the Athletic Center at The John Cooper School provides our students and student-athletes with a state-of-the-art facility for fitness and team activities and a dynamic community space to support and cheer on our athletic teams. The facility is centrally located in our athletic complex adjacent to the Pugh Field and Dunlap Gym. This new facility opened for use in August 2024.
The Athletic Center provides premier, collegiate-level quality facilities for our students and student athletes. Aligned with Cooper’s goals and philosophy to strengthen bodies, minds, teams, and our community, students across all grades and student athletes across all sports utilize and benefit from this facility.
The facility includes:
- The Ruckman Team Room for team meetings and film review, including technology and flexible seating to serve other groups on campus
- The Rovirosa Weight Room that expands and improves available spaces for strength training and skill building for students and student athletes
- The Barnwell Training Room with hydrotherapy tubs, taping and treatment tables, and sports medicine office
- Spacious locker rooms for our athletes and coaches
- Studios for cheer practice and group fitness, both of which can accommodate Lower School physical education classes and group meetings outside of team practice schedules
- An expansive outdoor plaza, overlooking the Pugh Field and Pate Track, for community gatherings and celebrations
The John Cooper School is grateful for the support of donors that have contributed to this project and invites the support of all members of the school community who would like to be a part of the funding team for the Athletic Center. For more information about giving to this project, please see the Giving Options.
Lower Level – Team & Competition
Accessible directly from Pugh Field and Pate Track, the bottom floor of the Athletic Center includes an easily accessible and expanded Barnwell Training Room to support student athletes, locker rooms for boys and girls teams, a flexible locker room for additional team needs, coach locker rooms, and men's and women's coaching suites.
Level 1 – Strength & Community
The primary entry point, and lobby of the Athletic Center, is on Level 1, adjacent to the Concession Stand and stairs to Pugh Field home seating. The Center’s plaza, its partially covered outdoor space, provides a welcoming gathering area for members of our community to watch outdoor competitions. Inside the facility on Level 1, community members will see the Ruckman Team Room and Rovirosa Weight Room as well as restrooms and an office for strength and conditioning staff of the school.
Level 2 – Spirit & Fitness
The top floor of the Athletic Center includes a cheer studio with wood floors and elevated ceilings, a fitness studio for group fitness, a uniform room for storage and laundering needs, and a changing room for those utilizing studios on this level. In addition to team practices, these studios can be used for Lower and Middle School physical education classes, indoor recess, and community meetings and gatherings.
You Are Invited to Support the Athletic Center
The John Cooper School is grateful for donors who have contributed toward the construction of the Athletic Center and welcomes others who are committed to our students, teams, and offerings to support this project. To make a one-time gift via credit card to the Athletic Center, please complete the giving form.
If you are interested in learning more about options for donor recognition within the facility (naming opportunities of $25,000+) or pledging your support to this project over a period of years, please contact Christen Wilson, Chief Advancement Officer, at cwilson@johncooper.org or 281-367-0900 ext. 2327.
The John Cooper School
From Curiosity to Wisdom
The John Cooper School is an independent, non-sectarian, co-educational, college preparatory day school. Our mission is to provide a challenging education in a caring environment to a diverse group of select students, enabling them to become critical and creative thinkers, effective communicators, responsible citizens and leaders, and lifelong learners.
The John Cooper School seeks to attract qualified individuals of diverse backgrounds to its faculty, staff, and student body. The School does not discriminate against any individual in admissions, educational programs, personnel policies, general practices, or employment, on the basis of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, physical disability, or age.
The John Cooper School seeks to attract qualified individuals of diverse backgrounds to its faculty, staff, and student body. The School does not discriminate against any individual in admissions, educational programs, personnel policies, general practices, or employment, on the basis of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, physical disability, or age.
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