Post by doctorwho on Mar 17, 2010 7:43:37 GMT -6
Wow ! Imagine that !!
Someone from 204 leadership needs to go to 203 and explain to them that even though the people only apprvoed $87M - they can spent 21% over and above like we did. After all, it's an open checkbook, it's not like you're watching your own money...and if you do it covertly enough most of th people will never know. -- so there's $18M left in the coffers- get creative with some financing- throw money at the project to ensure it is done early or on time- Millions..--
Nice to see not every taxpayer getting screwed...
----------------------------------
www.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/news/2106617,Central-renovations-time-under-budget_NA031710.article
March 17, 2010
By KATHY CICHON kcichon@stmedianetwork.com
It seems everyone at Naperville Central High School is leaving for spring break. Even the mummy formerly known as Butch.
While students are on vacation, the approximately 2,020-year-old mummy will be moved to Naperville North High School for safekeeping as construction at Central continues.
On any given day there are generally 25 to 50 workers on site as work on the south addition at Central continues. The high school is in the midst of an $87.7 million renovation project that includes approximately 170,000 square feet of new construction and 370,000 square feet of renovation. Work began last May and is scheduled for completion by the end of 2011.
"We're pretty much on time," said Ralph Weaver, director of facilities and construction for Naperville School District 203.
On Tuesday Weaver and McFadden led area media on a tour of the school and construction site, where the sounds of power tools and machinery were constant in background.
In the south addition, crews were busy working in what will eventually be the school's cafeteria. But inside the school there are plenty of visible signs the project is well under way. Students walk on bare concrete floors where tile and carpeting once existed, and past empty wall space where pictures used to be displayed. All the windows looking into the construction site are boarded up.
"Eventually the windows that are there now will be windows that open into the cafeteria," McFadden said.
But the aesthetics of the building and the noise have not caused much of problem
The main complaints about construction are about different smells, McFadden said. Anytime a teacher or student reports an odor, it is investigated. Somebody inside the building as well as somebody with the district continue to look at air quality issues. The fire department runs tests as well, she said.
"Everything's within the normal range," McFadden said. "It's been more of an annoyance than anything dangerous to anyone."
When spring break begins March 29, crews will continue working on the south addition, Weaver said. But they'll also take advantage of the empty school for tasks including asbestos removal, work on the loading dock and removing windows in the gym.
"Whatever demolition we can get away with without being too much of a disturbance," Weaver said.
Students will return from break to see empty trophy cases and a bare interior, Weaver said.
While plans for the renovation began several years ago, the overall timing has been beneficial to the cost.
"We're below budget," Weaver said. "It's about $7 million below budget."
While the project still has to bid for asphalt and bleachers, he said, there's no doubt the recession has helped keep costs down.
"The economy has helped quite a bit," Weaver said. "I think that's probably the biggest factor … their profit margins are probably a lot thinner."
'--you mean instead of rushing it thru- because-- well no one really knows because why do they?'
Once complete, the school will include new global communication and research learning environments, along with new athletics and wellness spaces. The existing science labs will be converted into a fine arts and music wing, and the existing cafeteria will become a new library and media center.
A new cafeteria and commons space will be formed by the enclosure of an existing exterior courtyard, which also involves the construction of a three-story wing.
"The academic wing will be ready when school starts on Aug. 25," said Melea Smith, director of communications for the district.
The first floor will feature health classes, a couple of special education classes and the athletic director's office. The social studies department will be on the second floor and the third floor will house the new science labs.
"One of the reasons why this all got started," McFadden said. "(Was) trying to get our science labs into the 21st century."
The new cafeteria will double as a prep area for elementary school lunches, and will include a new kitchen and café style serving area. It will also feature a new information center with a display screen, Weaver said.
"We do different presentations in here and that's one thing that's been lacking in our cafeteria," McFadden said. "We presented pretty much on walls or had to bring in screens."
The space will be used for practice for the flag team and other student activities, which, "at this point this year, we've had to use other buildings as well," McFadden said.
The renovation also includes the installation for three small skylights and one large one, to help bring natural light into interior classrooms that don't have windows, Weaver and McFadden said.
"One of the big pushes has been to always get as much natural light as possible," McFadden said. "I used to be in the math department and all of those classes are almost all interior rooms so you don't see the light of day at all."
Next year the area near Hillside and Porter will serve as the main entrance as work is done on the north addition. After that it will be the student entrance where they are dropped off by buses.
Above the door to future cafeteria, the word "Administration" is engraved in brick, and it will remain that way. Years ago the area served as the main entrance to the school, and the glass doors of the German class led to the school office. Those too, will likely remain.
"That's our only classroom that has double doors," McFadden said.
Much of Phase 1 of the project will be completed this summer, when Phase 2 will begin, Weaver said.
"Phase 1 will take us all the way down to the math department and down by the fine arts," Weaver said. "The only thing that will be extended over into the next coming school year would be the front north addition, and the fine arts — which is music and everything — will still be under construction until January."
Students and staff will be in the south addition's new academic wing in the fall.
"Have to be," Weaver said. "When school starts we should be into this space."
For more information on the construction project, including streaming video, photos and recaps, visit www.naperville203.org/departments/buildings/BuildingNCHS.asp.
Someone from 204 leadership needs to go to 203 and explain to them that even though the people only apprvoed $87M - they can spent 21% over and above like we did. After all, it's an open checkbook, it's not like you're watching your own money...and if you do it covertly enough most of th people will never know. -- so there's $18M left in the coffers- get creative with some financing- throw money at the project to ensure it is done early or on time- Millions..--
Nice to see not every taxpayer getting screwed...
----------------------------------
www.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/news/2106617,Central-renovations-time-under-budget_NA031710.article
March 17, 2010
By KATHY CICHON kcichon@stmedianetwork.com
It seems everyone at Naperville Central High School is leaving for spring break. Even the mummy formerly known as Butch.
While students are on vacation, the approximately 2,020-year-old mummy will be moved to Naperville North High School for safekeeping as construction at Central continues.
On any given day there are generally 25 to 50 workers on site as work on the south addition at Central continues. The high school is in the midst of an $87.7 million renovation project that includes approximately 170,000 square feet of new construction and 370,000 square feet of renovation. Work began last May and is scheduled for completion by the end of 2011.
"We're pretty much on time," said Ralph Weaver, director of facilities and construction for Naperville School District 203.
On Tuesday Weaver and McFadden led area media on a tour of the school and construction site, where the sounds of power tools and machinery were constant in background.
In the south addition, crews were busy working in what will eventually be the school's cafeteria. But inside the school there are plenty of visible signs the project is well under way. Students walk on bare concrete floors where tile and carpeting once existed, and past empty wall space where pictures used to be displayed. All the windows looking into the construction site are boarded up.
"Eventually the windows that are there now will be windows that open into the cafeteria," McFadden said.
But the aesthetics of the building and the noise have not caused much of problem
The main complaints about construction are about different smells, McFadden said. Anytime a teacher or student reports an odor, it is investigated. Somebody inside the building as well as somebody with the district continue to look at air quality issues. The fire department runs tests as well, she said.
"Everything's within the normal range," McFadden said. "It's been more of an annoyance than anything dangerous to anyone."
When spring break begins March 29, crews will continue working on the south addition, Weaver said. But they'll also take advantage of the empty school for tasks including asbestos removal, work on the loading dock and removing windows in the gym.
"Whatever demolition we can get away with without being too much of a disturbance," Weaver said.
Students will return from break to see empty trophy cases and a bare interior, Weaver said.
While plans for the renovation began several years ago, the overall timing has been beneficial to the cost.
"We're below budget," Weaver said. "It's about $7 million below budget."
While the project still has to bid for asphalt and bleachers, he said, there's no doubt the recession has helped keep costs down.
"The economy has helped quite a bit," Weaver said. "I think that's probably the biggest factor … their profit margins are probably a lot thinner."
'--you mean instead of rushing it thru- because-- well no one really knows because why do they?'
Once complete, the school will include new global communication and research learning environments, along with new athletics and wellness spaces. The existing science labs will be converted into a fine arts and music wing, and the existing cafeteria will become a new library and media center.
A new cafeteria and commons space will be formed by the enclosure of an existing exterior courtyard, which also involves the construction of a three-story wing.
"The academic wing will be ready when school starts on Aug. 25," said Melea Smith, director of communications for the district.
The first floor will feature health classes, a couple of special education classes and the athletic director's office. The social studies department will be on the second floor and the third floor will house the new science labs.
"One of the reasons why this all got started," McFadden said. "(Was) trying to get our science labs into the 21st century."
The new cafeteria will double as a prep area for elementary school lunches, and will include a new kitchen and café style serving area. It will also feature a new information center with a display screen, Weaver said.
"We do different presentations in here and that's one thing that's been lacking in our cafeteria," McFadden said. "We presented pretty much on walls or had to bring in screens."
The space will be used for practice for the flag team and other student activities, which, "at this point this year, we've had to use other buildings as well," McFadden said.
The renovation also includes the installation for three small skylights and one large one, to help bring natural light into interior classrooms that don't have windows, Weaver and McFadden said.
"One of the big pushes has been to always get as much natural light as possible," McFadden said. "I used to be in the math department and all of those classes are almost all interior rooms so you don't see the light of day at all."
Next year the area near Hillside and Porter will serve as the main entrance as work is done on the north addition. After that it will be the student entrance where they are dropped off by buses.
Above the door to future cafeteria, the word "Administration" is engraved in brick, and it will remain that way. Years ago the area served as the main entrance to the school, and the glass doors of the German class led to the school office. Those too, will likely remain.
"That's our only classroom that has double doors," McFadden said.
Much of Phase 1 of the project will be completed this summer, when Phase 2 will begin, Weaver said.
"Phase 1 will take us all the way down to the math department and down by the fine arts," Weaver said. "The only thing that will be extended over into the next coming school year would be the front north addition, and the fine arts — which is music and everything — will still be under construction until January."
Students and staff will be in the south addition's new academic wing in the fall.
"Have to be," Weaver said. "When school starts we should be into this space."
For more information on the construction project, including streaming video, photos and recaps, visit www.naperville203.org/departments/buildings/BuildingNCHS.asp.
