As construction begins to draw to a close, looking back is the only way to see how far it’s come.

From a neon orange “Home of the Cougars” sign to a shining auxiliary gym, Northwest’s construction is almost complete. 375 different people have worked on the project, which has cost close to $21 million.

The auxiliary gym has added 31, 867 square feet, providing space for volleyball and basketball practice or for outside sports on a rainy day. Four volleyball teams used to share one gym for practice, but now each team has enough room to play on a standard court, according to Jessica Barger, sophomore volleyball coach.

The performing arts building has added 20,850 feet, providing room for band, strings, choir and art classes. The new facility has improved the working conditions for art students, according to David Hunt, fine arts teacher.

“This was a great change to what was a great school, and now it’s an even better school,” Hunt said. “It is beneficial to the students, certainly because there is more space to work. will greatly benefit the ceramics and jewelry students.”

The new band facility provides practice rooms, storage rooms, a music library and a uniform room for students. Band director Penny Snead said having more space makes the biggest difference, although she has personal favorites as well.

“If I had to pick one thing, I would say the uniform room,” Snead said. “But, selfishly, I would say the library because I didn’t have room in the other band room to even be organized.”

The new turf field helps keep the band room clean. “We don’t come in with clumps of mud on our feet. The mud would be a quarter of an inch thick,” Snead said.

The freshman A, freshman B, sophomore and JV football teams all play their games on the turf field. “ don’t have to worry about the grass, having mud holes and, in the late summer, turning hard as a rock,” football coach Aaron Barnett said.

All of the construction workers have been very helpful, according to Snead.

“These constuction workers have been incredibly nice, been accommodating and conscious of what we need to do in the classrooms,” Snead said. “I don’t think there were any problems as far the workers were concerned.”