A Remodel in Progress

By Greg Garofalo, MS, LAT, ATC 

The September/October NATA News includes the article “Before the Blueprint,” which outlines things to consider before a face-lift, renovation or new construction project. To further shine a light on the topic, in this article series, the NATA Secondary School Athletic Trainers’ Committee and other ATs share practical insights and lessons learned from their recent facility projects. 

I received word in fall 2025 that after 50-plus years, Hoffman Estates High School in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, and its student athletes were finally going to be receiving an updated athletic training facility to better service their health care needs. 

The buildings and grounds (B&G) director at the district level and for my building, our principal, architects and I met multiple times leading up to the date when construction was scheduled to begin and plans were finalized. 

This is where the work on my end just began. I had to start planning for the remainder of my spring season, how and where I was going to be placed for our summer camps and when could I begin the process of moving back into my new facility.

Spring 2025

I work in the largest high school district in Illinois, so we have numerous sports in the spring – 13, to be exact – with multiple levels for most sports. As much as I wanted to pack up everything to prepare for our move, I would be unable to utilize what was needed for the remaining weeks of the season. 

Additionally, we’re also a school that hosts many state series events, which was going to provide more challenges on how I could provide services outside of my space to teams that might not even be my own or familiar with our campus. 

I knew I would have limited space, so I needed to decide what was really needed to do my job. We are very fortunate in what resources we have, but I knew I couldn’t take everything outside. There are ATs across the country who are likely operating in a similar capacity every day, so I knew it was going to just take some creativity to get the job done. 

Once May hit, it was crunch time. I needed to have enough supplies available while still being prepared to have my maintenance staff clear out my room, along with a dedicated location for my supplies as I may need to grab restock. I was also informed that the original deadline I was given to move out was bumped up causing me to ramp up my preparations. 

Here’s what I knew I needed to have with me:

• Treatment tables
• Ice machine 
• Water bottles/coolers
• Various rehab equipment (bands, rollers, stretch straps, etc.)
• Tape/wound care supplies
• Wi-Fi access (for documentation purposes)

Transition to Outside       

It was decided that I would move to the concession stand for the summer. This was the best possible location outcome due to its direct access to our stadium. I could treat kids in a shaded place out of the elements, and I worked with our maintenance staff to obtain some large fans and a portable AC unit to help cool the space down. I was able to fit two treatment tables and some various rehab equipment to assist any injuries that may occur. 

One of the small blessings that came with being outside was the unlimited space and new ways to perform rehab exercise. It allowed me to use my creativity with any new injuries or current ones that arise.

Additionally, all of our indoor camps were moved to other locations in our district due to the inability to access any gymnasium space. I had conversations with the other ATs in our district to make sure that they were comfortable with treating our athletes, and that that coaches and athletes were also comfortable. It’s so important to ensure you have great relationships with the other ATs who work within your district but outside your school for situations just like this. I trust them with my athletes because of those relationships I have built. This was going to greatly decrease the number of athletes who would be under my care with the limited space and resources this summer, so it was a win for our kids.

Preparing To Move Back

The move back inside will likely be the most challenging portion of this project. 

I’m at the mercy of the construction crew and the timeline that they’re on. I have been at this school for other construction projects that have gone over the deadline due to unforeseen issues. My athletic training facility is being renovated along with both the boys’ and girls’ locker rooms. This is the first renovation of these spaces since the original construction, so there are likely to be some hangups. Also, the layout may change slightly from what we originally thought, which could change where things get placed. So, my process to bring things back in out of storage and the concession stand may not be at the best or convenient time. 

Another thing to consider is that I have an entirely new cabinet system and storage area. Simply moving in and getting to work isn’t an option. I will need to be strategic about placement of certain items to keep a good flow of the space. While I have seen the layout on a blueprint, that isn’t the same as being in the facility and setting eyes on the physical space. 

Ideally, having at least a week to get prepared would be ideal, but it is important to understand that it may be last minute. Communicating with B&G on timelines is going to be imperative to make sure when the time comes to move, everyone is on the same page. 

Final Thoughts

This is a very exciting time, and I can’t wait to be in the new space. Communication is the most important thing to take away from this, from the original discussions on the redesign, to packing and moving and coming back into the new facility. There will be bumps in the road, but the more information you are able to obtain and share, the smoother this process will be. One thing athletic trainers do best is adapt, so no matter the situation if you are prepared to the best of your abilities, a renovation can be as painless as possible.