Post by title1parent on Aug 14, 2009 5:24:58 GMT -5
www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=313374&src=76
Naperville C.: functional but not pretty
By Melissa Jenco | Daily Herald 8/14/09
Naperville Central High School won't be pretty when students return next week, but officials say it will be safe.
"Everything will be functional, you'll be able to get to everything," said Ralph Weaver, director of facilities and construction. "(But) a lot of everything will be ugly."
The school at 440 W. Aurora Ave. is undergoing an $87.7 million renovation project to address a shortage of space and the age of the building that dates back to 1950.
Naperville Unit District 203 broke ground on the renovations in late May and crews have been working throughout the summer on site preparations and asbestos removal.
When students return on Wednesday, they'll likely notice some boarded up windows as well as bare concrete floors where tile and carpeting were removed during the asbestos abatement process.
Once school begins, though, the work will be confined to outdoors. Crews will be constructing a cafeteria and three-story wing on the southeast side of the building that eventually will house all major subject areas.
Weaver said students and teachers will have to put up with some extra noise, vibrations and possibly smells throughout the year as work continues on the addition.
"It's those kinds of irritants they'll have to put up with," Weaver said. "It's like anything else - you have to put up with some bumpy things to get what you want."
An extra room in the learning resource center will be available throughout the year in case students taking a major test need a quieter space.
Work on the football stadium also is ongoing. When complete, the field will have a synthetic turf playing surface and an eight-lane track. Weaver hopes to have the stadium ready in October, if the weather cooperates.
The new bus drop-off area near the stadium should be ready by the time classes begin.
After this school year, students and teachers will move into the new wing and work will begin on other projects at the campus, such as creating a new fine arts area, relocating and updating the learning resource center and upgrading mechanical, electrical, plumbing and technology throughout the building.
Central has been expanded five times over the years, usually with several additions each time. Roughly 75 percent of the building will be affected by the latest project, producing 170,000 square feet of new construction and 370,000 square feet of renovated space.
The entire project is expected to be complete in December 2011.
Huskies returning next week to Naperville North, 899 N. Mill St., will be in for a few changes as well.
The school is undergoing a $5.2 million project that also began this spring.
Outside, the school's traffic routes and parking lots have been revamped. The front lot has been expanded and will be used for faculty and visitor parking. The east lot along Mill Street will be used for bus drop-off.
Officials said they wanted to separate buses from other traffic to improve safety on the site.
The number of parking spaces will remain nearly the same, although there are more faculty spaces and fewer student spaces than in the past.
Even the groggiest of students returning Wednesday will have a hard time missing the bright orange and blue of the school's football field. Synthetic turf was installed in the spring and despite a vandalism incident over the summer, is ready for the coming season.
The Booster Club also partnered with the athletic and activities departments to raise money for a wrought iron fence around the stadium, new scoreboard and ticket booth and an archway and brick plaza at the main entrance.
"It's beautiful the work that's been done," athletic director Doug Smith said. "It's really nice with turf and the new additions done by district and Booster Club and it brightens up the outside facility and the school. I think it's going to be well received."
Inside, work on the pool is ongoing.
The pool is being deepened so North can host swimming and water polo competitions. The new pool will have eight competition lanes, three shallow instructional lanes, three one-meter diving boards and a handicapped-accessible pool lift.
Weaver estimates the pool will be ready for use in mid- or late-September. In the meantime, swimmers will hold their practices and home meets at Naperville Central.
Renovating the pool locker rooms is also on the to-do list but that likely won't happen until next summer.
Naperville C.: functional but not pretty
By Melissa Jenco | Daily Herald 8/14/09
Naperville Central High School won't be pretty when students return next week, but officials say it will be safe.
"Everything will be functional, you'll be able to get to everything," said Ralph Weaver, director of facilities and construction. "(But) a lot of everything will be ugly."
The school at 440 W. Aurora Ave. is undergoing an $87.7 million renovation project to address a shortage of space and the age of the building that dates back to 1950.
Naperville Unit District 203 broke ground on the renovations in late May and crews have been working throughout the summer on site preparations and asbestos removal.
When students return on Wednesday, they'll likely notice some boarded up windows as well as bare concrete floors where tile and carpeting were removed during the asbestos abatement process.
Once school begins, though, the work will be confined to outdoors. Crews will be constructing a cafeteria and three-story wing on the southeast side of the building that eventually will house all major subject areas.
Weaver said students and teachers will have to put up with some extra noise, vibrations and possibly smells throughout the year as work continues on the addition.
"It's those kinds of irritants they'll have to put up with," Weaver said. "It's like anything else - you have to put up with some bumpy things to get what you want."
An extra room in the learning resource center will be available throughout the year in case students taking a major test need a quieter space.
Work on the football stadium also is ongoing. When complete, the field will have a synthetic turf playing surface and an eight-lane track. Weaver hopes to have the stadium ready in October, if the weather cooperates.
The new bus drop-off area near the stadium should be ready by the time classes begin.
After this school year, students and teachers will move into the new wing and work will begin on other projects at the campus, such as creating a new fine arts area, relocating and updating the learning resource center and upgrading mechanical, electrical, plumbing and technology throughout the building.
Central has been expanded five times over the years, usually with several additions each time. Roughly 75 percent of the building will be affected by the latest project, producing 170,000 square feet of new construction and 370,000 square feet of renovated space.
The entire project is expected to be complete in December 2011.
Huskies returning next week to Naperville North, 899 N. Mill St., will be in for a few changes as well.
The school is undergoing a $5.2 million project that also began this spring.
Outside, the school's traffic routes and parking lots have been revamped. The front lot has been expanded and will be used for faculty and visitor parking. The east lot along Mill Street will be used for bus drop-off.
Officials said they wanted to separate buses from other traffic to improve safety on the site.
The number of parking spaces will remain nearly the same, although there are more faculty spaces and fewer student spaces than in the past.
Even the groggiest of students returning Wednesday will have a hard time missing the bright orange and blue of the school's football field. Synthetic turf was installed in the spring and despite a vandalism incident over the summer, is ready for the coming season.
The Booster Club also partnered with the athletic and activities departments to raise money for a wrought iron fence around the stadium, new scoreboard and ticket booth and an archway and brick plaza at the main entrance.
"It's beautiful the work that's been done," athletic director Doug Smith said. "It's really nice with turf and the new additions done by district and Booster Club and it brightens up the outside facility and the school. I think it's going to be well received."
Inside, work on the pool is ongoing.
The pool is being deepened so North can host swimming and water polo competitions. The new pool will have eight competition lanes, three shallow instructional lanes, three one-meter diving boards and a handicapped-accessible pool lift.
Weaver estimates the pool will be ready for use in mid- or late-September. In the meantime, swimmers will hold their practices and home meets at Naperville Central.
Renovating the pool locker rooms is also on the to-do list but that likely won't happen until next summer.