Bond Work & Sinking Fund Project Update: April 2025

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 April update includes construction updates on the new maintenance building, Burton and Pattengill, Berkley High School’s Performing Arts & Pool construction projects, timeline for the Phase I work, update on parking changes at BHS and updates on Phase II projects and technology updates. 

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 2025-2026.

Bond & Sinking Fund Projects - Phase I Timeline

The following is an estimated Phase I timeline for the 2025 projects. These dates may change due to the nature of construction including weather delays, supply chain delays, etc. Many of these projects will impact parking throughout the high school campus. More detailed information will be shared with the community and Berkley High School neighbors once the plans are finalized.

• Underway: Black Box Theatre Construction
• Underway: Pool Construction
• Underway: The BEAR Complex Construction
• Underway: The Den Construction
• May 1, 2025: Auditorium Construction Begins
• June 2025: Science Construction Begins After School Ends
• Summer 2025 Construction: Burton & Pattengill - Gym Remodel, Playgrounds, Parking Lots
• August 2025: Pool Grand Opening
• Start of School 2025: Burton & Pattengill Multi-Purpose Addition Grand Opening, plus Science Classrooms Open
• October 2025: Science Labs Grand Opening
• January 2026: Performing Arts Center Grand Opening (Auditorium, Black Box Theatre, Instrument Commons, Band/Orchestra Rooms)
• October 2026: The BEAR Complex Grand Opening

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. The building is nearing completion as the construction team works through the final punch list of work. The Maintenance Team has moved in. The construction fencing will be removed once cement repair work is completed in the area right outside the new building.

District-wide Furniture Purchase - Bond - Phase II

The design process for Phase II(B) is complete. The Board of Education approved the purchase of furniture for elementary media centers plus Norup, music room furniture, art room furniture, science lab furniture and furniture for the Adult Transition Program and Robotics at the Den. Installation will take place over the summer.

Phase I: Burton & Pattengill Multi-Purpose Additions - Bond - Fall 2024

Burton & Pattengill multi-purpose/cafeteria additions are underway. Both additions are scheduled to open in late August 2025.

Burton

Burton’s new multi-purpose/cafeteria addition will be attached to the building at the northeast corner of the playground by the gym. It will house a new lunchroom, a new kitchen, storage rooms, restrooms and will be a wonderful space for collaboration.

Construction Update:

• Interior and exterior masonry walls continue to be built and are making great progress. The sides and front of the building are now formed.
• Steel is being installed
• Electrical and plumbing work continues.
• Underground storm pipes are being installed
• Site work continues, removing additional concrete sections to prepare for the additional site work around the addition.
• For the new playground area inside of the track, fencing is up and excavation is done to prepare the site for the monkey bars, swings and shade sails.
• The street-side parking on Nadine, plus the sidewalk, was closed on March 14, 2025.
• The City of Huntington Woods has determined that Nadine Ave between Scotia and Henley will remain as a “No Thru Traffic” zone through the construction project. Families will not be able to drop off and pick up on Nadine for the rest of this school year to keep students safe.

Pattengill

Pattengill’s new multi-purpose/cafeteria addition will be attached to the building at the north doors, in the current concrete area. It will house a new lunchroom, a new kitchen, storage rooms, restrooms and will be a wonderful space for collaboration.

Construction Update:

• Interior and exterior masonry wall construction has resumed now that the frost laws have lifted and the site is leveled.
• Electrical work continues.
• Site work now includes blocking off 9 parking spots from the staff lot to accommodate the construction work through the summer.
• On April 18, the construction team closed Oakshire to connect the addition to the city’s stormwater system. The District sent letters to Pattengill neighbors to keep them informed.
• In addition to the multi-purpose addition, the District is adding parking spaces near the baseball field on Royal as part of the construction.

Phase I: BHS Performing Arts Wing - Bond - Spring 2025

Black Box Theatre/Choir Room

Construction Update:

• The construction fencing is now up at Berkley High School in the Sunnyknoll lot. This worksite allows for trucks to deliver materials from Henley and exit onto Catalpa. 
• Demolition work will begin soon for the area of the new Black Box Theatre/Choir Room and instrument storage commons. 
• The work will continue once the city of Berkley approves the final water retention plan.

May 1 Parking Alert: After the BHS spring musical, the Auditorium, Auditorium lobby and the student drop off loop will close for construction to begin. Families will be asked to drop students off in the lot across from the high school. Students will be encouraged to park in the field across from the high school which has gravel to help with the spring dampness. As a reminder, no dropping off or picking up is allowed on Catalpa.

Upgrades to both the Band and Orchestra rooms, as well as upgrading practice rooms, will begin once school is out in June.

Phase I: BHS Science Wing - Bond - Summer 2025

The BHS Science Wing planning and drawings are complete and the bid divisions are approved. The science work includes a complete renovation and redesign for the lab spaces, updates to chemical storage rooms, and creating new lab spaces. The Science Wing project timeline includes work beginning once school is complete in June 2025 and the labs reopening in October 2025. Science classrooms will open to students before the labs are complete.

Phase I: BHS BEAR Complex - Bond - Spring 2025

The District Field House project is now named The BEAR Complex (The Berkley Education, Athletics and Recreation Complex). The BEAR Complex includes a 60-yard indoor fieldhouse that includes a new weight room, team room and trainer room, an outdoor 120-yard turf performance field with lights, parking lot expansion and new configuration, and a grass field north of the turf field. 

Construction Update:

• Asbestos abatement is complete in the front building and will begin the week of April 28 for the back building. 
• Tree removal has begun on the site where the trees interfere with construction. Some trees along the perimeter will remain. 
• The demolition of the fields and buildings will begin during the month of May 2025. Once demolition begins, the parking lot will be closed to the public.
• The team is finalizing designs for redoing the crosswalks on Catalpa to make it safer for pedestrians.

Parking adjustments: The BHS parking lot across from the BHS main entrance will close in June. 
Until then, students have opportunities to park in the field across from the BHS main entrance until June.

Phase I: BHS Pool - Bond - Spring/Summer 2025

The pool scope includes: a new HVAC system, new starting blocks, new diving board, updating tile areas, redoing the pool office and restroom and updates to the chemical system. In addition to this work, the team is adding a new filter system, a new timing system and scoreboard, upgrading lighting and additional plumbing work, including replacing the water main leading to the pool. The new scoreboard and timing system has been ordered. Additional mechanical work (filtration and chemical systems) will be completed in spring/summer 2026. 

Construction Update:

• The pool is drained and scaffolding has been installed. 
• Prep work for paint is completed, work continues on the floor drain replacement, all finishes have been selected (tile, paint, starting blocks, sound baffling) and the new timing system and scoreboard have been ordered. 
• The pool will have a new roof installed over the next few weeks, and once that is complete, the interior finishing work will continue.

The Den - ATP and Robotics - Sinking Fund - Spring 2025

The former Cana Lutheran Church has a new name - The Den! The Den will house The Adult Transition Program (ATP) and Robotics programs. 

Construction Update:

• The work for both of these projects has begun. 
• Demolition is complete in the upstairs space and HVAC work has started. 
• The current parking lot at The Den is closed for construction.
• Plans have been adjusted to accommodate the Robotics equipment and code enforcement. 
• Technology meetings and door hardware meetings have been completed and all furniture has been selected for both the upstairs and lower level spaces.

Phase II: 2025-2026

Angell & Rogers Multi-Purpose Additions - Bond - Fall 2025

Design team meetings are complete for Angell and Rogers multi-purpose/cafeteria additions, gym updates and any resulting playground adjustments. Both multi-purpose additions will resemble the Burton and Pattengill designs and function and will have playground or outside space adjustments to accommodate the new additions. The final drawings are out to bid and critical area contractor recommendations will go to the Board of Education in May for approval, with the rest going to the Board in June. Work will begin this summer in hallway ceilings and a few classrooms to prep for the larger project.

Norup, AMS & Hurley Field - Bond - Spring 2026

The Berkley Bond Team and professional partners walked the spaces at Norup, Anderson and Hurley Field that are slated for 2026 construction. The team confirmed the scope and will move into the design phase soon for these spaces which include updating the gyms, team rooms at Hurley Field, as well as lighting and expanding the parking lot at Hurley.

Burton & Tyler Park Fields - Sinking Fund - 2026

Burton Field

Berkley Schools is refining the project work to improve Burton field with its professional partners. The work will include fixing the ponding in the field, replacing the dirt infields with grass infields and preparing the site to have a multi-purpose use, as well as include two diamonds to host t-ball games. The plan is to have this work begin in the Fall, once the Burton playground is reopened after the current construction projects. This project is being funded by Berkley Schools, Huntington Woods Men’s Club as well as the City of Huntington Woods and supported by the Berkley Dads Club.

Tyler Park - Softball Field Update

The District Bond/Sinking Fund team is working to finalize the plans for updating Tyler Park with City of Oak Park officials. The first iteration of plans came in significantly over budget, so the team had to go back to the drawing board to reconfigure some of the site amenities. On the District side, a new Varsity softball field will be built with lights, permanent fence, dugouts, stands, scoreboard, bullpens and batting cages. On the Oak Park side, a multipurpose field will be updated to fix the drainage issues. A cement walking path will also be added to both properties to allow for a full path connecting the parking lots to the fields and for the community to enjoy. On the District side of the property a small restroom facility will be built as well. Details are nearing finalization so that work can begin in the Spring of 2026.

Technology - Bond

The District is working to improve the fiber network and has hired IDS as a technology consultant to assist with Bond project planning specific to technology needs. 

The new staff laptop distribution plan has begun and will continue through the end of the school year. While working through the technology Bond projects, the team is working to secure E-Rate Matching Fund Grants to offset District cost.

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.