Post by title1parent on May 28, 2009 4:16:36 GMT -5
www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=296714&src=76
Dist. 203 breaks ground on Naperville Central renovation
By Melissa Jenco | Daily Herald 5/28/09
Shovels hit the ground and excitement reached its peak Wednesday at Naperville Central High School.
After several years of planning, Naperville Unit District 203 broke ground on an $87.7 million renovation and addition project for the school.
"I'm very excited and I'm looking forward to our students in a couple years having a well-deserved and much-improved facility and I'm looking forward to the successes and achievements to come," Principal Bill Wiesbrook said.
He and others thanked the community and Superintendent Alan Leis for their support.
The school was built in 1950 and has since been expanded five times, usually with several additions each time.
Officials cited the age of the building and lack of space as top reasons for renovating the school this time around.
Leis said the first time he entered the school six years ago, it was apparent that the science labs in particular were not adequate.
"This school achieves, these students achieve, and buildings do not a school make, but it just seems to me for the future of our community, for the future of education, it was really important that we have an adequate facility," he said.
The district initially considered a complete rebuild but backed off that plan when cost estimates put the price tag at about $130 million to $140 million.
While Central won't get an entirely new building, roughly 75 percent of it will be affected by the project, which will produce 170,000 square feet of new construction and 370,000 square feet of renovation.
Plans for the school include a mix of remodeling and new construction to the three-story wing that will house all major subject areas; relocating and updating the learning resource center, new athletic and music spaces; improved traffic flow both outside and within the school; synthetic turf on the football field; reduced building entrances; and upgrades to mechanical, electrical, plumbing and technology.
"What will never change ... is the pride in achievement, the traditions that date back to the 1830s," said Gretchen Zelinski, president of Central's Home and School. "Those will not only continue but get better."
Wight and Co. serves as the architectural/engineering firm on the project, while IHC manages construction.
Construction is scheduled for completion in December 2011.
The school will remain open during renovations.
"We look forward to the adventure of concrete floors, partial walls and weird vibrations in the middle of math class," joked Lynne Nolan, dean of student activities and an alumna. "I contend that the spirit of community cannot be bound by bricks and mortar. Rather that we the graduates and future graduate of this place will take forward the knowledge, lifelong love of learning and spirit of community to be the bricks and mortar of Naperville and other communities of our world."
The project is part of $114.9 million in ongoing facilities projects around the district. Last year, voters approved a $43 million tax hike to help fund the projects that also include an addition and renovation of Mill Street Elementary School, building an early childhood center and improvements to the pool, football field and traffic flow at Naperville North High School.
For a video depiction of what the completed Central will look like, visit www.naperville203.org/ assets/NCHSExterior10-20- 08.wmv.
Dist. 203 breaks ground on Naperville Central renovation
By Melissa Jenco | Daily Herald 5/28/09
Shovels hit the ground and excitement reached its peak Wednesday at Naperville Central High School.
After several years of planning, Naperville Unit District 203 broke ground on an $87.7 million renovation and addition project for the school.
"I'm very excited and I'm looking forward to our students in a couple years having a well-deserved and much-improved facility and I'm looking forward to the successes and achievements to come," Principal Bill Wiesbrook said.
He and others thanked the community and Superintendent Alan Leis for their support.
The school was built in 1950 and has since been expanded five times, usually with several additions each time.
Officials cited the age of the building and lack of space as top reasons for renovating the school this time around.
Leis said the first time he entered the school six years ago, it was apparent that the science labs in particular were not adequate.
"This school achieves, these students achieve, and buildings do not a school make, but it just seems to me for the future of our community, for the future of education, it was really important that we have an adequate facility," he said.
The district initially considered a complete rebuild but backed off that plan when cost estimates put the price tag at about $130 million to $140 million.
While Central won't get an entirely new building, roughly 75 percent of it will be affected by the project, which will produce 170,000 square feet of new construction and 370,000 square feet of renovation.
Plans for the school include a mix of remodeling and new construction to the three-story wing that will house all major subject areas; relocating and updating the learning resource center, new athletic and music spaces; improved traffic flow both outside and within the school; synthetic turf on the football field; reduced building entrances; and upgrades to mechanical, electrical, plumbing and technology.
"What will never change ... is the pride in achievement, the traditions that date back to the 1830s," said Gretchen Zelinski, president of Central's Home and School. "Those will not only continue but get better."
Wight and Co. serves as the architectural/engineering firm on the project, while IHC manages construction.
Construction is scheduled for completion in December 2011.
The school will remain open during renovations.
"We look forward to the adventure of concrete floors, partial walls and weird vibrations in the middle of math class," joked Lynne Nolan, dean of student activities and an alumna. "I contend that the spirit of community cannot be bound by bricks and mortar. Rather that we the graduates and future graduate of this place will take forward the knowledge, lifelong love of learning and spirit of community to be the bricks and mortar of Naperville and other communities of our world."
The project is part of $114.9 million in ongoing facilities projects around the district. Last year, voters approved a $43 million tax hike to help fund the projects that also include an addition and renovation of Mill Street Elementary School, building an early childhood center and improvements to the pool, football field and traffic flow at Naperville North High School.
For a video depiction of what the completed Central will look like, visit www.naperville203.org/ assets/NCHSExterior10-20- 08.wmv.