Bond Work & Sinking Fund Project Update: Summer 2024
With the passing of the August 2023 Bond, Berkley Schools teams are busy planning for upcoming construction projects. In addition to the Bond projects, the District has a list of Sinking Fund projects that are also in the works to improve and update our facilities. The Sinking Fund was approved by voters in 2018. Because both Bond and Sinking Fund projects are ongoing, these monthly updates will include details on both.
The summer update includes construction updates on the new maintenance building construction, construction update for Hurley Field, new furniture installation information, technology updates and updates on all Phase I construction plans (Burton, Pattengill, BHS).
These monthly Bond & Sinking Fund updates will be maintained on the District’s website. See below for updates on the Phase I projects that are taking place in 2024 and 2025.
Project Updates
Maintenance Building - Sinking Fund
The new Maintenance building is located at the Administrative Offices site in Oak Park, at the end of the parking lot, just north of the Norup playground. Construction has begun! The foundations of the new building have been poured and the structural steel is being installed. Construction is currently following the timeline and the building is anticipated to be completed by the end of December 2024.
Hurley Field Turf and Track Update - Sinking Fund - Summer 2024
The new turf installation is complete. Contractors completed the work in early summer and are now working on the track. The first layer of asphalt is complete and the second layer is being installed this week. Once the asphalt cures, approximately a 14 day process, the final track surface will be installed and lines will be painted. That final surface has to cure for 10 days. The goal is to have the track and turf open for use by the first week of fall sports. All timelines are weather dependent.
District-wide Furniture Purchase - Bond - Summer 2024
All furniture has been removed from classrooms district-wide. The custodial and maintenance team is following the removal and cleaning carpets as rooms are emptied. The new furniture is already on site and being assembled and installed throughout the District. The timeline includes all buildings being completed prior to students arriving in August. The new furniture includes student desks, student chairs, teacher desks, teacher chairs, multiple classroom storage options and flexible seating. The Phase II furniture plans for specialized spaces (specialized classrooms, art rooms, media centers, for example) are nearing completion. Phase II spaces will most likely receive their new furniture during Winter Break or later.
Phase 1: Burton & Pattengill Multi-Purpose Additions - Bond - Fall 2024
Burton & Pattengill Multi-Purpose additions plans are complete. The projects are out for bid and contractors should be selected at the August Board of Education meeting. Final plans for staging areas and parking/traffic flow impact are nearly complete. As soon as these details are finalized, we will share them with the respective communities. Both schools will have additional work done on their gymnasiums and playgrounds along with the multi-purpose additions. Both projects should break ground in October 2024 with a target completion date of August 2025.
Phase 1: BHS Performing Arts Wing - Bond - Spring 2025
Berkley High School’s Performing Arts Bond team are finalizing and confirming details as the professional partners prepare the documents to send the job out to bid. The team is working on finalizing details of the lighting and curtains and a final review of all other selections and plans. All BHS projects will go to bid together in September/October. This work will begin in the Spring 2025 and is scheduled for completion in early 2026.
Phase 1: BHS Science Wing - Bond - Summer 2025
The architects have refined the drawings for the BHS Science Wing work and are working with the Bond team to refine finishes and details. The Science Wing will be packaged along with the rest of the BHS projects and will go to bid in September/October. The Science Wing project timeline includes work beginning once school is complete in June 2025 and the labs reopening in September 2025.
Phase 1: BHS BEAR Complex - Bond - Spring 2025
The District Field House is now named The BEAR Complex (The Berkley Education, Athletics and Recreation Complex). The District Bond team continues to finalize details for The Bear, completing the decision making for the indoor and outdoor turf and refining the design for the entrance to the outdoor field. The BEAR Complex will go to bid in September/October. Work will begin during the month of April 2025.
Phase 1: BHS Pool - Bond - Spring/Summer 2025
The professional teams are working on plans and drawings for the space and will meet with the BHS Pool Design Team to refine the work during upcoming meetings. Pool updates will take place during Summer 2025.
ATP & Robotics at former Cana Lutheran Church - Spring 2025
The Bond and Sinking Fund team is working with the District’s architects and construction management team to plan the construction for the new Adult Transition Program (ATP) and Robotics spaces. The team has completed drawings and continues to refine the work through meetings with the Berkley team. The work for both of these projects will be bundled with the BHS Bond projects and will go to bid in September/October 2024. The goal is to have ATP in their new space by August 2025 for the start of the school year and Robotics soon after and prior to their 2025 build season.
Work on the site continues including ADA updates to a bathroom and separate entrance for the church congregation.
Baseball/Softball Fields - Sinking Fund - Timeline TBD
The District is planning to add a new home varsity softball field on the Tyler Field, just north of Berkley Building Blocks. The design team, along with Foresite Design, is working on design details. This new varsity field would include lights, dugouts, concession area and a permanent outfield fence. The work is also being planned to include an outdoor restroom location near the field. Update: The planning work for the softball field and collaboration with the City of Oak Park for park improvements continues.
Planning and discussions are continuing for baseball field upgrades.
Technology - Bond
New interactive flat panels and new classroom sound systems have been installed in all classrooms at Angell, Burton, Pattengill, Rogers, Norup and Anderson along with new clocks.
Team Meetings
The District teams participate in Steering Committee meetings twice a month with Stantec (architecture, engineering, design), McCarthy & Smith (construction management), and SES (engineering and mechanical systems) to plan timelines of construction, prepare bid documents, as well as pour over details of the scopes of work. Each project has a standard sequence of work: design phase, project cost estimating, bidding for contractors, awarding contracts, construction phase (demolition and building) and finally, project completion.
