What is the
current plan for construction?
This project will unfold carefully over a period of
years and be paced to ensure that no child will have his/her classroom or
school years disrupted; even as construction takes place, our focus is on
current students at the school.
Phase 1 (UNDERWAY): Early Childhood Campus, Blaine Hall repairs, and
infrastructure
The University Trustee
approved the entire schematic design
of the Schools’ renovation and expansion and authorized funds for the first
phase of the project, which will allow us to move forward on the Early
Childhood Campus and renovations to the existing campus. If all goes as
planned, all N–2 students will start school in the new ECC in September 2013.
Repairs to the
Blaine roof are completed in October 2010, and modernization begins on
the infrastructure backbone in the basement of the historic campus in preparation
for updating the mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and life safety systems.
Phase 2: Blaine Hall
renovations, Middle School renovation, Arts Wing construction, Belfield Tower East renovation
Moving N–2
students to the new ECC will allow renovations of existing buildings to unfold
in vacant spaces. Middle School renovations will include crucial updates to
electrical, plumbing, and fire protection systems.
The construction
of the new Arts Wing (located in place of the one-story Belfield Hall section while preserving the historic towers at each end of Belfield) will meet
long-held demand for increased studio and performance spaces. With the new ECC
and renovated Blaine Hall spaces, the few classrooms in Belfield Hall will no
longer be in use. High School renovations will
include construction of new science labs and upgraded plumbing and electrical
systems and adherence to ADA codes.
Phase 3: High School renovation, Belfield West renovation, Judd Hall renovation
Complete
renovation of Judd Hall and Belfield Towers, including HVAC and fire safety systems, will include configuring interiors for academic needs and ADA
compliance. U-High renovations will include a rebuilt library and cafeteria
spaces and other MEP upgrades.
Why not start with
the Arts Wing?
In order to protect children from any construction
inconvenience, the only process that makes sense starts with building the new
ECC. It adds much-needed new space into which students will move, emptying
areas of the schools involved in subsequent phases of construction. To begin construction with the Arts Wing would take away space that is being used before
new/alternative spaces are built and would put today’s students at a distinct
disadvantage.
When did the Stony
Island site become an option?
The use of alternate sites for Lab purposes had
been a consideration since this project’s inception. However, the concept took
on new importance once it was determined that the Schools would need to grow by
an additional 276 students over the next decade. Upon reviewing architectural
drawings that showed how new buildings might be sited on existing Lab property,
School leaders, University administrators, and the architects agreed that the
loss of green space was too great. The University immediately began the
necessary procedures to bring forth and gain approval to give use of the Stony
Island site to Lab.
How will we keep
school running during all of this construction?
Ensuring that current students and teaching are not
disrupted in any way has been a top priority. The construction plan has been
phased to move children both out of, and away from, areas under construction.
Every effort will be made to attempt to ensure that no children will be moved
out of any classroom during a school year. And summer and other breaks while
children are away from campus will be prime times for construction.