• Dynamic new 24,00 sf facility in the heart of Pullman offers unique facility for students in the south side and surrounding communities to grow and thrive with their extracurricular activities.

• Project was designed using input from After School Matters students, staff, and faculty obtained in a series of formal and informal programming and outreach sessions by Eckenhoff Saunders. These sessions assured proper responsiveness to student needs and program goals.

• This project was developed on the premise that students learn in a variety of settings, not just the classroom. Accordingly, the facility includes breakout learning spaces in addition to dedicated areas for art, music, dance, and culinary arts. These and other multifunctional studios are organized around a central atrium with amphitheater seating and daylit from skylights above. On the second floor, a rooftop terrace serves as an outdoor classroom and a vegetable and herb garden. Public areas feature student-designed and -crafted art installations.

• The new facility is a boon to the neighborhood and its residents, creating positive change for the community and keeping students safe and engaged. ASM Gately creates an atmosphere that encourages fruitful interaction among students and emboldens them to achieve their goals. The indoor track and field supports local athletic programs and hosts national sports events, benefiting the community.

• The project has been designed to receive LEED certification.

In a joint effort with the Chicago Park District, After School Matters recently unveiled a new 24,000 square foot multi-functional facility to serve high school students on the City’s South Side. Located directly adjacent to the Park District’s new Fieldhouse at Gately Park, ASM Gately provides outstanding educational opportunities for local teens in the fields of art, culinary, dance, and music. Those enrolled in ASM programs will also have direct access to the indoor track and other park recreational facilities for sport and fitness opportunities. This project was developed on the premise that students learn in a variety of settings, not just the classroom. Accordingly, the facility includes breakout learning spaces in addition to dedicated areas for art, music, dance, and culinary arts. These and other multifunctional studios are organized around a central atrium with amphitheater seating and daylit from skylights above. The project has been designed to receive LEED certification.

The McHugh/BOWA Joint Venture (MBJV) team leveraged the latest technology, including 3-D modeling, to create operational and cost efficiencies throughout construction. This technology enabled real-time communication between and among construction managers, subcontractors, and vendors, which was critical in addressing and resolving issues without costly delays. 3-D models of the structure were also utilized during field team training, providing crews a complete look into the construction and addressing questions or concerns in advance.

The project is intended to achieve LEED Certification and as such, includes several enhanced sustainability features including low flow fixtures and locally sourced materials. The features that improved energy performance within the facility, include energy efficient LED lighting, well-insulated exterior wall construction, and a variable refrigerant flow (VRF) mechanical system that reduces the cost of operating the facility. Indoor air quality was a focus of the facility design, and the project includes the use of low VOC materials to control occupant comfort.

To ensure quality of installation throughout the entire project, internal inspections by the MBJV Quality Assurance Team were conducted during every phase of construction. This started with each individual subcontractor’s QC kick-off meeting to fully review the contract documents and approved submittals with their field team prior to the start of any work. The MBJV team’s Quality Manager, independent testing agencies and ESA proactively inspected work regularly throughout the duration of the project. Additionally, the Park District’s staff inspector reviewed the quality of work being installed daily.

Field team training was critical to assuring quality control on the worksite, and significant resources were allocated for training prior to the start of each new construction activity. All crewmembers were trained on the team’s quality assurance standards and encouraged to participate in quality assurance audits on the worksite. QA specifications were available for access by all crew via a web-based library, and they were encouraged to play an active role during inspections by accessing and commenting on drawings, specifications, and reports.

After School Matters was deeply involved in the building design from its inception. The project design initiated from a series of collaborative programming and outreach workshops involving the design team, ASM students, and faculty and staff. Developing the project in tandem with students and faculty assured the design team it was remaining responsive to the client’s needs and goals. The new facility is a boon to the neighborhood and its residents, creating positive change for the community and keeping students safe and engaged. ASM Gately creates an atmosphere that encourages fruitful interaction among students and emboldens them to achieve their goals. The indoor track and field supports local athletic programs and hosts national sports events, benefiting the community.

All project stakeholders agreed that getting crewmembers home safely every day was the chief priority. The project, which was serviced by over 1000 construction professionals, was completed with zero time lost and recordable injuries.

For overall safety planning, our construction management team worked closely with neighborhood officials to adjust traffic patterns and create a safer environment for field crew, pedestrians, and vehicle traffic. During construction, a full-time safety manager was always on site to ensure adherence to the teams’ strict safety standards. Work crews began each day with a Take 5 for Safety prior to commencing work. A Take 5 is a snapshot of the tasks for the day, the hazards that may be present, and the mitigation strategies put forward to prevent those hazards from occurring. The foreman for the crew led these meetings and drove home that safety was the #1 priority of the project. Crews were required to wear high-visibility, level two safety apparel as well as attend ‘stretch and flex’ sessions to ensure they were prepared for the project’s physical demands each day.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the MBJV team was able to implement new safety procedures to allow for the project construction to proceed as scheduled. The newly established safety protocols, put in place in early March 2020, included all on-site personnel completing a daily wellness audit, temperature checks, wearing face coverings at all times on site, increased handwashing and sanitizing of the project site, and always maintaining social distancing. To review these new protocols, the team conducted (3) safety stand-downs to train and clearly explain the new working requirements. This allowed for construction to proceed without any impact to the completion schedule.

The project scope included the design and construction of a new selective enrollment public high school on Chicago’s southwest side near Midway Airport. Designed for a student capacity of 1,080, the project included new classrooms, STEM labs, science labs, music classrooms, art classrooms, computer labs, a library, gymnatorium, dance room, locker rooms, cafeteria and kitchen, administrative offices, and associated sitework. The project also featured a state-of-the-art black box theater for students to excel in the performing arts. The Public Building Commission of Chicago awarded this Design-Build contract to KRM ALL Joint Venture, a collaborative team comprised of K.R. Miller Contractors, Inc. and ALL Masonry Construction Group. KRM ALL Joint Venture assembled a diverse and inclusive project team balancing experience and expertise with ingenuity and creativeness.

The John Hancock College Preparatory High School Project serves as a model project highlighting the efficiencies of Design-Build delivery, providing opportunity to Minority and Women Owned firms, exemplifying a meaningful mentor-protégé joint venture, engaging the community, and building a diverse and inclusive workforce. This project is a case study on how design-build delivery can be utilized to engage stakeholder participation, monitor costs, and fast-track material and contractor procurement. Through diligent outreach, focused solicitations, and collaboration, KRM ALL JV was able to exceed the Minority and Women Business Enterprise participation goals. The community became engaged in this project having a voice in the design and providing 21% of the workforce hours building this project. Diversity and inclusion were a focus of KRM ALL JV who actively engaged and closely monitored the participation of minority and women tradespersons throughout the project and the exceeded goals.

Through the design-build process, KRM ALL JV was able to work with the architect directly early in design to evaluate materials and architectural features directly with K.R. Miller Contractors and ALL Masonry Construction. A key feature of the design was the intricate masonry. ALL Masonry was able to work directly with material suppliers, the architect, and their skilled workforce to mock-up several different masonry layouts and designs to review the feasibility and aesthetics of each design. The result allowed the design to feature ornate corbeled brick with unique shadow lines at the entries in addition to a unique brick relief feature at select windows.

The early involvement of the contractor on this project also allowed for the utilization of a cantilevered masonry support system to allow for the “hanging” of glazed brick around the façade of the Black Box Theater.

In addition to the unique masonry features, KRM ALL JV worked closely with theater and acoustical consultants in designing the Black Box Theater. This theater has become the first newly constructed black box theater for Chicago Public Schools and is the flagship theater for CPS’s performing arts program. Complete with an extensive catwalk, sound booth, modular seating, and state-of-the art AV equipment, this theater will provide a one of a kind opportunity for students to reinvent theatrical productions by eliminating the traditional stage and allowing for 360 degree performances.

KRM ALL JV also worked closely with CPS stakeholders and the architect in developing and implementing detailed specifications for the polished concrete floors. The team worked together to tour completed projects, develop lessons learned logs, build mockups, and re-sequenced field work to ensure high quality polished concrete floors were achieved. This preparation work resulted in high quality, durable, and aesthetically pleasing concrete floor throughout the main corridors and common areas of the school.

The KRM ALL Joint Venture team embraced the responsibility they have to their client, the community, key stakeholders, and the students and staff who occupy their project. Working closely with the Public Building Commission, Chicago Public Schools, and the Alderman, KRM ALL Joint Venture hosted numerous community engagement events throughout the design and construction of this project.

Throughout the design phases, KRM ALL Joint Venture and our design team partners met with students, staff, parents, and community members to assess their expectations, requirements, and wish lists. These meetings included an in-depth tour of the existing Hancock High School facility which allowed the design team an opportunity to meet directly with students and staff to understand and analyze how they utilized their educational, recreational, and artistic spaces. The design team also hosted bilingual design progress presentations ensuring all stakeholders were able to comprehensively understand how their project goals were being addressed.

The John Hancock College Prep High School project set ambitious goals to serve as a model for future projects in regard to diversity and inclusion. The City of Chicago’s mandatory participation goals of 26% MBE and 6% WBE were set higher on this project at 27% MBE and 8% WBE participation. In addition, the workforce goals which included minority, women, City of Chicago Residents, and Community Residents participation were also increased on this project. KRM ALL Joint Venture not only met these goals but far exceeded them.

Diversity and inclusion were a main focus of this project from day one. K.R. Miller Contractors, Inc. collaborated with ALL Masonry Construction, an MBE masonry specialty contractor and growing general contractor to form a joint venture and serve as the managing firm over the design-build team. The joint venture teamed with Legat Architects, a well-established architectural firm specializing in school design, and UrbanWorks, an MBE/WBE architectural firm with extensive experience in school design. Leading this team, the joint venture and the design team met to hand select a diverse team of consultants to perform civil, structural, MEPFP, landscape, and signage consulting services, all of whom were MBE or WBE firms.

The design-build team in-turn performed a rigorous specialty contractor selection process in which KRM ALL Joint Venture selected firms based upon not only costs but took a firms MBE/WBE status and their workforce inclusion plans into great consideration. Specialty subcontractors were asked to participate in detailed scope review meetings where their workforce development plans became of central focus.

During the specialty subcontractor procurement phase KRM ALL Joint Venture presented this project to the Federation of Women Contractors (FWC) and the Hispanic American Construction Industry Association (HACIA) members to discuss the projects scope and services.

KRM ALL Joint Venture also engaged HIRE 360 to assist the team in exceeding the workforce development goals. HIRE 360 hosted several virtual information sessions with the specialty contractors which enabled several specialty contractors to hire apprentices through HIRE 360 programs.

The overall participation goals and the actual participation of MBE and WBE firms as well as the diverse and inclusive workforce goals are outlined below. Through KRM ALL Joint Venture and their specialty contractor’s efforts 111 community residents participated on this project for over 21% of the total labor hours.

Description Project Goals Actual Participation
MBE Businesses 27 % 32.8 %
WBE Businesses 8 % 10.2 %
Minority Journeyworkers 50 % 60 %
Minority Apprentices 50 % 82 %
Minority Laborers 50 % 98%
Female Journeyworkers 2 % 2 %
Female Apprentices 2 % 12 %
Female Laborers 2 % 4 %
City of Chicago Residents 50 % 50 %
Community Residents 7.5 % 21 %

KRM ALL Joint Venture collaborated with tradespersons, company safety personnel, local union representatives, insurance personnel, and a third-party safety consultant to ensure the health and safety of all project personnel and the surrounding community.

This inclusive approach to safety with all parties working towards the same goals, resulted in a safe and healthy working environment. Strict enforcement and team member engagement created an project site in which everyone looked out for the safety of themselves and their coworkers.

Through these efforts KRM ALL Joint Venture was able to deliver this project through the onset and continuation of the COVID-19 pandemic, loosing no time within the schedule. With nearly 200,000 labor hours invested in this project, no lose of time incidents were reported.

Nestled in a densely populated urban neighborhood, Sherlock Elementary School (SE) opened in fall 2019, providing a fully equipped 21st century learning environment for 600 students in Grades PK-6. SE replaces an outmoded PK-2 facility and is the newest addition to Cicero SD 99 which includes 14 other elementary schools and 1 Junior High that collectively serve 11,270 students. The design and construction of SE is the result of an intensely collaborative effort between the Owner, Architect and an Enduring Partnership FGM Architects (FGMA) has been District Architect to Cicero SD 99 since 1990. In recent years, FGMA designed renovations and additions for 5 other district grade schools. The cumulative experience of those projects and community input informed the design of this new school.

• Maximum Transparency SE’s design showcases the transformative power of natural light, which flows in from windows that dominate this 4-story building. The school’s glass-enclosed edge circulation features a single-loaded corridor with stacked neighborhood clusters of classrooms that surround Learning Studios and collaborative activity spaces on the 2nd and 3rd floors.

• Flexible Learning Spaces Students on these floors enjoy using the double-height Learning Studios that are surrounded by classrooms which can be flexibly arranged to suit specific activities. The expansive serpentine curtain wall along the edge provides views to the interior spaces within the school, reinforcing the vibrant hum of this learning community. Throughout the school, color placement, textured floor patterns and flexibly shaped furniture (including cushions and ottomans) enhance the feeling of an exciting learning environment.

• Fully Equipped Exploratorium SE’s Exploratorium encompasses the entire 4th floor housing a Media Center, STEM Lab, Maker Space, Art Room, and the building’s Mechanical Rooms. Surrounding windows provides 360-degree views that extend as far as the downtown Chicago skyline. The Exploratorium includes a live wall, large video wall displays as well as punched openings in the ceilings/walls to demonstrate how the building mechanics operate—illustrating SE’s “learning anywhere, anytime” philosophy.

• A Community Gathering Place On the ground floor, students, parents, and visitors enter through a secure entrance adjacent to the administrative offices. The ground floor also houses Pre-K and Kindergarten classrooms that surround a Learning Studio as well as the cafeteria and gymnasium. The cafeteria extends from the building in a gentle half-moon shape fronted with glass windows. Outside SE, multiple plazas with benches and planters provide gathering spaces for students as well as the community after the school day. A spacious playground is designed for safety and filled with equipment that supports activities that are both fun and educational.

Sherlock Elementary (SE), a new, 4-story school, provides a 21st century learning environment for 600 PK-6 students. The design showcases the transformative power of natural light with a perimeter glass-enclosed single-loaded corridor connecting stacked clusters of classrooms that surround informal learning/collaboration spaces on the 2nd and 3rd floors. SE’s 4th floor is an Exploratorium with a Media Center, STEM Lab, Maker Space, Art Room, and outdoor learning terrace. The 1st floor houses Pre-K/K classrooms, the cafeteria, and a gymnasium, which is also a community storm shelter. First floor spaces are used for a variety of community activities. FGM Architects designed/built SE with its partner, Vision Construction, and extensive input from Cicero SD 99 officials. Together, the teams implemented a complex building program including the purchase of adjacent properties and environmental site remediation. This landmark learning environment will serve its community for generations.

FGMA’s building partner in the creation of SE was Vision Construction (VC). The quality of VC’s work is rooted in the knowledge, expertise, and experience of its team of professionals. To streamline document control, VC and FGMA used the same project management software which facilitated an almost seamless transfer of submittals, RFI’s, RFP’s and all project documents required between the CM and Architect. Completing construction of SE required the additional expertise of 29 prime contractors as well as 30 subcontractors and sub-tier contractors.
The new SE replaces a facility that was long past meeting the District’s needs on the same site serving almost twice as many students. Located in a dense neighborhood, the constrained site posed many challenges. The District purchased three adjacent properties and moved a city alley 30’ back to enhance the size of SE’s footprint. Even so, the building limits were maximized within the site constraints, stretching to the right-of-way on 3 sides and up to setbacks of adjacent properties on the remaining side. Meticulous scheduling of material deliveries had to be maintained to ensure materials were not turned away or placed in conflict with the progress of construction.
The site also required environmental remediation to remove ACM and other contaminants from the soil. During this process, 3 underground storage tanks were discovered that were not indicated on any historical documents. In addition to soil removal, all contaminants and tanks were eliminated from the site.
A phased bid and construction schedule mitigated the building challenges and ensured on-time completion. In total, there were 5 distinct phases in the construction of SE that involved demolition of existing structures and site remediation on both the original property and adjacent properties that were purchased.
Throughout construction, the FGMA/VC team employed a rigorous program of checks and balances to ensure the quality of the completed facility. This included a comprehensive control and survey program with complex foundation layouts, precise locations for steel anchoring within foundation elements and NAVD survey tracking of the entire superstructure erection.
The Town of Cicero has a combined storm and sewer management system. To protect SE’s mechanical systems from flood risk, FGMA/VC implemented a resilient design approach, placing the HVAC equipment on the building roof. This required local government approval and posed acoustical challenges to ensure that equipment decibel levels remained within approved limits.
Maintaining the construction schedule throughout was a critical challenge. Children that had previously attended the PK-2 school were assigned to other District schools during the construction process. Returning them to their assigned school and opening the doors for new students in Grades 3-6 was a critical priority for Cicero SD 99. FGMA applied a phased bid approach to ensure that SE opened on schedule in fall 2019, a landmark educational facility that will serve the District and community for years to come.

For over 3 decades, FGMA has sustained a robust partnership with Cicero SD 99. Through the tenures of four District superintendents, FGMA’s deep knowledge of this community has ensured consistency and a continuous path of improvement for its learning environments and support facilities. The input of school leaders, faculty, staff, parents and the larger community are reflected in every element of SE’s design.
The community impact of SE is – and will continue to be – far reaching. Some highlights to date:

• SE is a beacon of safety and opportunity. Its design incorporates 21st century learning pedagogy as well as state-of-art sustainable building standards.

• SE’s design reflects the community’s strong desire for a neighborhood school that children can walk to (lessening traffic congestion) and attend from pre-kindergarten through Grade 6. The ground floor design achieves the community’s “gathering place” vision with designated spaces that are accessible beyond the school day. The cafeteria and gym are deliberately adjacent so that adults can participate in learning activities in one space while their children are engaged recreationally next door. The school offers a forum for many activities ranging from informational sessions, computer and technology support, trainings and social gatherings for children and their families.

• The SE site is environmentally remediated. Sustainable features include a green roof and permeable pavers to reduce water run-off.

• In August 2019, the Chicago CBS-affiliate TV station featured SE in a story celebrating the opening of this “high concept modern school.”

• SE received “Honorable Mention” in the Fall 2020 Awards of Excellence showcase in Learning by Design magazine; the IL Association of School Boards has awarded SE the “Award of Distinction” for excellence in the design of educational environments.

Maintaining a safe work environment is central to VC’s approach with a 3rd party consultant engaged throughout to ensure there are no compromises on this priority commitment. In addition to the work crews, the safety of the surrounding community, especially in a dense urban neighborhood, is also paramount. Door-to-door notices were continually posted informing neighborhood residents of upcoming activities such as road and sidewalk closures, crane lifts and large material deliveries. These ongoing communications minimized both the dangers and inconveniences that a complex, lengthy construction project can present. VC’s attention to safety resulted in “no recordable injuries” from the start to finish of SE construction.

• The town of Hinsdale has a deep and rich connection to competitive swimming. Building a new high school natatorium was a priority for the athletics program and alumni, as well as residents of the local community who can access the facility.

• Built in the 1950s, the existing pool was undersized and in constant need of significant repairs. Deck space could not accommodate teams or classes, the pool’s limited size caused swim and dive scheduling conflicts, and the seating capacity was restricted. A single, small, wet locker room with poor ventilation and many rusted or broken lockers had to be alternately used by both boys and girls. Pool leaks and filter system breakdowns were a common occurrence.

• In March 2015, as part of a district-wide Master Facility Planning process, a focus group of coaches, PE teachers, community members, board members, administration and several students began reviewing the existing space and planning for a modern aquatics facility.

• The new natatorium sits at the center of the high school campus, which required extensive safety planning and daily logistical coordination of students, faculty and staff as they progressed throughout the school day and during weekend events.

• Extensive communication and collaboration between the Hinsdale School District, Pepper Construction and ARCON Associates architects produced an innovative design with construction solutions that were safely completed on time and below budget.

The new Don Watson Aquatics Center is a showcase for the rich legacy of Hinsdale Central High School’s swim and dive program. The highlight of this state-of-the-art replacement facility is a 10 lane, stretch 40-yard pool with movable bulkhead, allowing both swim and dive competitions to take place at the same time, as well as enhanced physical education and team practice opportunities. Separate men’s, women’s and single-use wet locker rooms, an enlarged deck area and dedicated space for coaches, storage and spectator amenities replace an undersized 6-lane, 25-yard pool that regularly required major repairs.

An extremely tight site led to creative building placement near an existing undersized detention pond and new detention system under an adjacent replacement soccer field. Funded as part of a referendum, the project also benefited from community involvement and contributions of more than $1 million. The project was safely delivered on time and for less than the established budget.

Following approval of the district’s $120 million referendum in 2019, Pepper joined the project team in March 2020 and started work almost immediately. In close coordination with ARCON Associates, work progressed through programmatic and schematic phases and coordinated estimating. There were several iterations of the pool design and the team worked together to make adjustments, procure materials and start construction quickly to meet the fast-paced schedule. The final plan resulted in a 9,700-square-foot 10-lane, 40-meter stretch pool that holds approximately 500,000 gallons of water. Typically, the pool vessel is built first and then the natatorium building envelope is constructed around it. However, at Hinsdale Central the design of the envelope itself was unique and complex. Rather than a typical steel frame that is constructed and covered with a roof, a combination of concrete, steel and masonry was integrated into the design. This required additional time for careful consideration of how the structure should come together. Addressing the enclosure first ultimately saved money and allowed us to make the pool operational a month sooner than if we had followed a more traditional construction sequence.

Let the Sun Shine In
The design also called for a specific type of glazing on the large windows that make up the west wall of the building. This glazing has thermal properties and incorporates privacy and sun control so the space does not get over-heated. The team collaborated and considered several options before determining which would best achieve the design intent as economically as possible while ensuring thermal comfort. These windows allow natural light into the natatorium space and offer energy savings for the large space. The ceiling is constructed with acoustical decking, which helps absorb sound inside the space to reduce the amount of echo. On the exterior, a built-up bituminous roof with several layers provides exceptional waterproofing and will improve long-term performance. It reflects UV rays and includes solar tubes that foster additional energy conservation.

Water Outside the Pool
Just as the exterior walls were coming together, winter conditions were right around the corner. Considerations had to be made for moisture and temperature control. The natatorium is a massive space with 35-foot-high ceilings, which would have been impossible to keep warm enough to complete the necessary work throughout the coldest months. The team quickly constructed an enclosure over the pool vessel in just a few days, fully enclosing the space just before temperatures dropped. The center of the tent sat eight feet below the roofline and connected to all sides of what would become the pool deck area. This solution also prevented the ground from freezing so the crew could complete the required deep foundation system.

The entire pool vessel were built inside the tent at a comfortable 70 degrees from late January to the end of March. While the tent did take a few days out of the schedule to construct, the benefits gained from safely and efficiently working uninterrupted through the frigid winter months far outweighed any initial delay.

The aquatic center sits on an old bog that previously served as a natural storm detention system. To compensate for the placement of the new building, a new underground storm detention tank was positioned under the adjacent soccer field and new storm piping was installed on the property. This included boring under the school to route storm utilities from inside an existing courtyard.

Diving Into Technology
In order to facilitate the extensive mechanical and electrical upgrades required in one summer, the team utilized BIM coordination to ensure an efficient installation within the compressed schedule. The mechanicals necessary to operate the swimming pool and support the foundation were complex. The pool filters were so large that they had to be installed first so that the structure could be built on top of them. Otherwise, they would have not fit into the building.

Because the aquatic center sits on the previously described bog with 15 feet of very soft soil below, standard foundation solutions could not be used. More than 400 helical piers were drilled through the shifting soil 40-50 feet down until the piers reached solid ground. The layout of these helical piers was supplied by the helical pier installer. Pepper was able to model in all of the helical piers that support the building, which allowed us to accurately place all of the designed underground plumbing required for sanitary waste and connections to the drain tile. This model gave us the most accurate information when planning the installation and implementation of these sanitary waste systems.
The routing of the underground ductwork was unique for this project. This ductwork had to run at a 1/8-inch per 12-foot pitch to keep condensation from accumulating inside the sheet metal and slowing air flow. The ductwork pulls in air from the pool deck and brings it back to the dectron unit on the roof to be recirculated in the space. By modeling the ductwork at the specified pitch, we confirmed that it could be below the pool deck and provided our subcontractors the information needed to determine the depth of the trench needed for proper installation in the field. These efforts ensured that all of the necessary equipment would fit underneath the pool deck and that the trench drain could sit on the pool deck. Models were also used to coordinate the pool timing system and the conduit needed for the perimeter lighting.
We also modeled the constricted areas where ductwork needed to be navigated around the pool. The structural support model was supplied by the structural steel contractor to accurately show where crossbeams would sit so ductwork could be positioned within the tight windows provided.

A Tribute to Coach Watson
“Nothing great was ever accomplished without enthusiasm.” That was the life motto of Don Watson, the former swimming coach at Hinsdale Central for whom the new aquatic center is named. It’s just one of the many quotes from Coach Watson that now decorate the natatorium’s walls. The lobby and viewing area showcase trophies, state plaques and tributes to the many great swimmers who have become part of Hinsdale Central High School’s legacy. The importance of swimming to the school’s culture is unparalleled at the high school level. When additional funds were needed to build the desired state-of-the-art facility, one donor offered to match donations dollar for dollar as long as the natatorium was named after their extraordinary Coach Watson. An All-American distance swimmer in college, Watson began his coaching career at Central in the 1960s. He led the boys’ swim team to 12 straight state championships from 1967-78. His program produced four Olympic athletes and his accomplishments are widely recognized in the swimming world. After the generous offer to match donations, it only took a few months for the community to rally together and raise the additional funding needed to achieve their vision.

On August 20, 2021, a weekend-long celebration began with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Students competed and alumni returned to reminisce, celebrate and even swim a few laps in the new pool. Hinsdale Central Foundation President Carol Bobo found the experience to be a bit surreal. “So much of it was like, ‘Pinch me. Did this really happen? Am I really standing here on the deck of our new facility?’ We have talked about it for so many years.” Bobo, who graduated from Central in 1973 and coached girls swimming there for more than two decades, said she has been watching construction videos posted online and visiting the site, but seeing it completed during the dedication ceremony was amazing. She enjoyed returning the following morning for a more private visit. Many members of the local community shared Bobo’s interest in the project’s progression while they looked forward to being able to access the new natatorium when it is not in use by the students.

In the midst of the natatorium construction, a tragic accident took the life of an elite Hinsdale Central swimmer in December 2020. The new pool became a source of healing for her teammates, coaches and the community. It became a dedication to her legacy as well. On August 28, 2021, 10 schools participated in an invitational swim meet in her honor. Swim coach Bob Barber, who was a former Hinsdale Central swimmer himself, noted that this was the largest competitive swimming meet ever held at Hinsdale Central, making it the appropriate event to celebrate a swimmer and teammate who was larger than life, in and out of the pool.

Working on an active campus is always a challenge and safety is of utmost importance on every job. The natatorium was constructed in the center of campus and the process often obstructed pathways to and from the athletic fields. Students, faculty and community residents were constantly walking around the construction site. Daily reviews of busy fall athletic activities and constant communication with the school resulted in the team creating temporary paths that moved with construction activities, often several times a day. This continuous re-routing allowed everyone to safely access the tennis courts and football, soccer and baseball fields.

The only sport that draws more fans than swimming at Hinsdale Central is football. Dickinson Field sits parallel to the aquatic center, with only about 150 yards separating the two. Aside from the high school’s “Friday Night Lights,” freshmen, junior varsity and middle school football games happened every weekend during the early stages of construction. Extra precautions had to be made to secure the work areas, materials and equipment for weekends when construction was paused and fewer workers were supervising the jobsite.

In addition to the adjacent football and soccer fields on one side, the academic building is positioned on two other sides of the new aquatic center. The only equipment access road for construction vehicles and cranes was on the south side of the building. When it was time to fly the 120-foot-long roof joists into position, the crane would have to make rotations over the academic building and field house. With an abundance of caution, the adjacent building areas were closed to all students, faculty and staff while Pepper secured the joists for the new roof. Despite the challenging and complicated construction process, there were no lost-time incidents throughout the duration of the project.

0 Recordable Incidents
1 First Aid Incident

River Trails SD 26, located in Mount Prospect, IL, serves 1,605 PK-8 students at four schools. Forty-nine languages are spoken in the district, 29% of the students are low income and 23% are English language learners. District 26 recently renovated the Prairie Trails Early Learning Center (PT-ELC), a facility built in 1966. This trailblazing deep energy retrofit is the nation’s first net-zero energy renovated school that also meets the PHIUS+ Source Zero project standard. The school uses 40-60% less energy than conventional buildings. PT-ELC serves 300 PreK and Kindergarten students in a fully accessible building.

• Modeling Sustainability The transformation of PT-ELC reflects this school district’s comprehensive commitment to sustainability ranging from its curriculum to facilities management. PT-ELC is a model of sustainable design and a healthy environment for students.

• Unique Sustainability Features PT-ELC’s Net Zero components and materials include photovoltaic solar roof panels (239.5MWh annual production); increased roof (R-65 average) and wall insulation; a highly efficient VRF heating/cooling system; high-performing windows to maximize natural light; and a lighting system that harvests daylight.

• National Recognition PT-ELC’s building envelope upgrades are significant. Recently, the U.S. Department of Energy recognized PT-ELC among 14 exemplary projects in its “Building Envelope Campaign.” PT-ELC was honored in the “Retro 50” category for facility renovations that achieve a 50%+ performance improvement over the original building.

• High-Quality Learning Spaces PT-ELC includes 13 classrooms with additional spaces for early intervention services and fine arts. A multi-purpose room with soundproofing panels and natural light serves as a gym, eating area, or gathering space for group activities. PT-ELC’s interior design supports early learning with a color palette that features earth tones in the flooring and brightly colored walls throughout. Furniture with minimal forms and tactile surfaces can be flexibly arranged to support varied activities. Classrooms include a mix of rubber flooring and sound-absorbing carpet.

• Outdoor Learning and Play PT-ELC’s site design includes a storm water detention system and landscaping that support a natural playground and outdoor learning area created by TERRA Engineering. Activity spaces include a gazebo and adjacent amphitheater seating; raised garden beds, a maze, pollinator garden as well as benches scattered along the edges of the play area. Other features such as climbing walls, stepping challenges, slides and caves are built into the topography helping children build skills in unexpected ways.

PT-ELC, a deep energy retrofit of a facility first built in 1966, has 13 classrooms, a multi-purpose room and other support spaces. Its natural playground supports experience-oriented activities rather than the traditional reliance on outdoor equipment. The play and learning space include manipulative and physical/gross motor areas, nature areas, a garden, sensory areas, social areas, sit spots and an outdoor classroom.

PT-ELC generates electricity with solar panels that offset annual energy usage. High-performance building elements (increased roof and wall insulation, a highly efficient heating/cooling system, and high-performing triple-pane windows) further reduce energy usage.

Designed by FGM Architects in partnership with the Construction Manager, Nicholas and Associates, PT-ELC was completed during the COVID pandemic. The partners leveraged scheduling challenges to properly integrate many high performing building components, performance testing and building commissioning.

A Robust Partnership The quality of Nicholas and Associates’ (NA) work is rooted in the knowledge, expertise, and experience of its team of professionals. To streamline document control, NA and FGMA used the same project management software which facilitated an almost seamless transfer of submittals, RFI’s, RFP’s and all project documents required between the CM and Architect.

NA had a seasoned project management team running the project and they were instrumental in completing the project under difficult conditions. PT-ELC construction began early in the pandemic, which gave the contractor full access to the school since students were not in the facility but material procurement/lead times and COVID mitigation protocols were a challenge. Shipping delays provided additional time which NA used to properly integrate the many high performing building components, for performance testing and building commissioning.

High Performance Energy PT-ELC was designed to conform with the PHIUS+ Source Zero project standard, using 40-60% less energy than conventional buildings. PHIUS+ is a “high-performance building standard” – it challenges the building industry to construct buildings that can maintain a comfortable indoor environment with very low operating energy.

The PHIUS+ standard emphasizes quality assurance. It demands more than calculating out to the energy standards in the model and passing a blower door test. PHIUS+ requires additional reasonable assurances that projects are going to perform as designed, have healthy indoor environments, and will be durable. To that end, PHIUS+ requires both pre-certification review as well as third-party on-site quality assurance checks. Pre-certification is performed by PHIUS staff, and final certification also involves the participation of PHIUS-certified independent Raters or Verifiers who carry out on-site quality inspections.

Peer Review To ensure quality, this project integrated multiple third-party consultants to peer review the design and verify system installation. A certified Passive House consultant (Boewman Design) was retained to peer review design documents for conformance with PHIUS + certification requirements, register the project and prepare energy models required by PHIUS

A third-party PHIUS+ Rater/Verifier (Eco Achievers) was retained to perform on-site verification and compliance measures with program criteria, as well as to conduct whole-building blower door and HVAC compliance testing.

The solar panel system was designed and procured through Trane, but a peer review of the solar production was performed by a separate engineer (IMEG).

And finally, the building was commissioned (IMEG) in conformance with requirements of the 2018 IECC Code.

PHIUS Certified Passive House Builder Training PT-ELC contractors participated in the PHIUS CPHB training program which prepares construction professionals to address the many challenges that passive house construction present. These include superinsulation, airtight envelopes, high-performance window installation, site management and component sourcing. This project included specialty details such as R-65 (average) roof insulation, a new double thermally broken curtain wall framing system with triple-pane dual low-e insulated glazing, a new thermally broken exterior wall cladding system (rail system, 4” new insulation, fluid-applied air barrier, new wall cladding).

River Trails School District 26 has a far-reaching commitment to sustainability that ranges from its curriculum to facilities management. The District’s explicit goal is: “…to lead the way in promoting environmental sustainability within our community and schools by inspiring our students and staff to protect the environment and be responsible global citizens.”

The creation of PT-ELC is the latest milestone of their progress and its impact on the community is substantial.

• District leaders project an annual savings of $32,000 per year in gas and electricity costs. A dedicated page on the River Trails SD website tracks PT-ELC’s system performance and power/energy consumption in real time. As of early February, an estimated 71,139 lbs. of CO2 emission have been saved or the equivalent of 537 trees planted.

• PT-ELC’s permeable paver parking lot alleviates flooding (a chronic problem for this community) and produces less runoff that erodes surfaces and carries pollutants into surrounding areas.

• The school district has received significant recognition for its efforts beginning with a $2 million grant from the IL Clean Energy Community Energy Foundation which supported renovation costs.

• PT-ELC includes multiple interactive exhibits, for both students and the community, to explain/interact with the multiple high performing components (HVAC system, building envelope, etc.) of the school.

• In addition to honoring PT-ELC in its “Building Envelope Campaign,” the U.S. Department of Energy features River Trails SD as an exemplary partner on its “Better Buildings” website.

School and community leaders express the impact of PT-ELC best. School Board President, Frank Fiarito says, “Empowering students to be stewards to their environment…is one of our pathways to life-ready students; what better way to demonstrate this than renovating a building to have net zero energy consumption.”

Mount Prospect Mayor Arlene Juracek adds, “The Village of Mount Prospect, through its Strategic Plan, is committed to sustainability and the use of renewable resources…. This new net zero energy building will serve as an important example and learning tool for the entire village.”

FGMA and NA share a commitment to safety being the highest priority on any project. In conjunction with daily toolbox talks and safety-specific discussion during weekly coordination meetings, NA engaged a 3rd party consultant to conduct frequent safety audits throughout the construction process. Each safety report was distributed to the entire team (field and office) for review and used as a guide for daily safety assessments. The attention to detail provided by our onsite Superintendents, coupled with responsible and proactive subcontractor safety practices, resulted in no recordable injuries for the PT-ELC project.

Gilbane provided construction management at risk services for Adlai E. Stevenson High School’s East Building Addition. Due to expected enrollment growth, the new 56,000 SF, four-story building was constructed to provide additional learning and teaching spaces. Unique project qualities include:

1. The East Building Addition is the first verified Net Zero Energy building in Illinois as acknowledged by the New Buildings Institute (NBI), LEED Schools Platinum and the first Living Architecture Performance Tool (LAPT) Platinum certified project in the world. Sustainable/green features included a greenhouse, green roof/garden area, a recycled water filtration system, solar panels and a two-story living wall.

2. As a Net Zero Energy building, all power is supplied from a photovoltaic solar panel array on the roof of the addition and the adjacent school building with backup ComEd power. Excess power generated is fed back to the electrical grid.

3. More than 78% of the construction waste generated during the project was recycled.

4. The safety of the 4,200+ students and 350+ staff, parents, visitors and the public coming to Stevenson every day was critical. Overall, the project team worked over 90,000 work hours with zero lost time accidents and only one recordable accident. At no time were any students, staff or public injured.

5. Gilbane has been performing construction management services for Adlai E. Stevenson High School District 125 for nearly 30 years totaling approximately $190 million worth of construction and 955,000 SF!

The 56,000 SF, four-story East Building Addition was constructed to provide additional learning and teaching spaces. The East Building Addition is the first verified Net Zero Energy building in Illinois as acknowledge by the New Buildings Institute (NBI), LEED Schools Platinum and the first Living Architecture Performance Tool (LAPT) Platinum certified project in the world. Sustainable/green features include a greenhouse, green roof/garden area, a recycled water filtration system, solar panels, a two-story living wall and all electricity is generated from photovoltaic arrays. Overall, the team worked over 90,000 manhours with zero lost time accidents. Gilbane has been performing construction management services for the District for nearly 30 years totaling approximately $190 million and 955,000 SF. This partnership is forged on a collaborative and transparent approach, as well as Gilbane’s strong commitment to protect the District’s best interests.

Gilbane provided construction management at risk services for the East Building Addition at Adlai E. Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire, IL. Due to expected enrollment growth, the new 56,000 SF, four-story building was constructed to provide additional learning and teaching spaces. The LEED Platinum certified, Net Zero Energy building includes new classrooms, labs, greenhouse, green roofs to be used for teaching spaces and stormwater control. The all-electric building is powered by a 500KW solar panel array on the roof of the existing building.

The building structure was built using a combination of load-bearing masonry and structural steel. The enclosure included brick/masonry, curtainwall and a metal panel rainscreen system. To ensure the schedule was met for the start of the 2019-2020 school year, phased bidding was utilized to permit sitework, foundations and load-bearing masonry to proceed ahead of the other 26 bid packages. The HVAC system utilizes electric variable refrigerant flow (VRF) units and direct outside air systems. As a Net Zero Energy building, all power is supplied from a 500 KW photovoltaic solar panel array on the roof of the addition and the adjacent school building with backup ComEd power. Excess power generated is fed back to the electrical grid. Innovative sustainable elements included the green roofs, living walls that filter return air to the air handling units and the photovoltaic array. More than 78% of the construction waste generated during the project was recycled.

The project was constructed on a very tight site, bound by two parking lots, a circulation road and the existing school, all of which had to remain in service throughout the construction. Noise, dust and deliveries all had to be strictly monitored and controlled to prevent impacting the educational environment. Deliveries were scheduled around student arrival and departure times including approximately 15 buses every morning and afternoon. Construction activities were restricted during school testing days. Connections to the existing building, including carbon-fiber reinforcing of the existing precast concrete planks, were limited to weekends, holidays and school breaks. Project management techniques included:
• The project schedule was managed from the project CPM schedule utilizing Lean scheduling practices, including detailed weekly work plans and pull planning to keep the project on schedule.
• Building Information Modeling (BIM) was used throughout the design and construction phases for coordinating construction phasing and access, MEP coordination and clash detection, and project visualizations for the District and public. BIM was also utilized in classes with the school’s pre-architecture/CAD classes to provide real-world applications of BIM.
• Construction quality was emphasized by the use of several critical mock-ups, especially the exterior metal panel rainscreen system, exterior masonry and interior finishes.
Gilbane’s quality in construction (QIC) program for the project was designed to ensure that all work was done right, complete and free of defects the first time. The program puts a specific process in place for all our projects that prevents mistakes by inspecting work at the earliest possible opportunities throughout the building process. Our team worked collaboratively with the Adlai E. Stevenson High School and Wight & Company during preconstruction to establish a clearly defined and mutually agreed upon understanding of the project’s objectives and requirements for our QIC plan. The successful development and implementation of this plan included mock-ups, benchmarks and inspections (i.e. materials, equipment, first construction, closure, punch list, activation and start-up).

In addition, the team utilized BIM 360 Field software to streamline the quality assurance process. Subcontractors were able to sort and access issues related to their scope of work and alert the Gilbane project team when the issue was resolved and ready for sign-off. Wight & Company utilized the system by directly inputting their own observations/punch list items.

Innovative Construction Techniques & Materials

• Sustainability: The East Building Addition is the first verified Net Zero Energy building in Illinois as acknowledge by the New Buildings Institute (NBI), LEED Schools Platinum and the first Living Architecture Performance Tool (LAPT) Platinum certified project in the world. Sustainable/green features included a greenhouse, green roof/garden area, a recycled water filtration system, solar panels and a two-story living wall. The garden consists of a farm area, where produce will be grown and used directly in the cafeteria. The living wall is able to convert carbon dioxide into oxygen, which allows the end user to recirculate room temperature air into each specific classroom. In addition, the building was designed and built to achieve zero energy/net zero status, as all electricity is generated from photovoltaic arrays mounted on the roofs of both the addition and the existing building.
Furthermore, Adlai E. Stevenson High School is the first high school in the country to achieve LEED-EB Gold certification for existing buildings. Gilbane contributed to this by recycling over 78% of all construction waste and 100% of all carpeting replaced over the past five years.

• Innovation in Technology: Using Building Information Modeling (BIM), the project team created a model along with Wight & Co. that was used throughout the project life cycle for visualizations, logistics planning, constructability analysis, clash detection, improving speed and accuracy of estimates, optimizing construction sequence and integration into a functional facilities management tool.
BIM was utilized to address potential conflicts in advance, leading to a more efficient construction process. Subcontractors were able to export as-builts, which reduced the time needed to review drawings. The team utilized laser scanning, which was imported into the model to show the existing structure and services. By utilizing BIM and laser scans, the team was able to proceed with work more efficiently and minimize coordination on site when tying the East Building Addition into the existing high school.

• Facility Management: Gilbane also provided facility management services to commission and integrate all new equipment into the District’s existing computerized maintenance management system (CMMS). All equipment was bar coded and all periodic maintenance, filter changes and maintenance instructions were loaded into the District’s CMMS system prior to the building being turned over. This enabled the District to immediately develop maintenance schedules and generate work orders upon occupancy, ensuring that the building could function as designed.

Ultimately, the project was completed within the timeframe requested by the District to allow move-in to a fully operational educational facility.

Adlai E. Stevenson High School recognized the opportunity to revitalize their food service program to serve a greater purpose than simply providing lunch. The East Building Addition features “eat-ertainment” components including theater-like food prep displays and made-to-order stations. These features increase student participation in dining programs and result in healthier food choices. This new food service space effectively meets new demands and also creates additional benefits such as less food waste, increased efficiency and speed, and a positive social experience. In addition, the roof garden consists of a farm area, where produce will be grown and used directly in the cafeteria.

During construction, Gilbane’s field team worked with the schools pre-architecture program and led various sessions focused around the overall construction process. The team presented on how building information modeling (BIM) is used in construction and how it supported the construction of the East Building Addition.

Our nearly 30-year partnership has resulted in a collaborative and transparent approach with the District, as well as Gilbane’s strong commitment to protecting the District’s best interests. In addition, our team has implemented various educational partnership programs and community engagement efforts. On the East Building Addition project, our team awarded nearly $1.5 million in contracts to diverse business enterprises in the Chicagoland area. 

The safety of the 4,200+ students and 350+ staff, parents, visitors and the public coming to Stevenson every day was critical. Extensive communication and coordination with building security, staff, transportation coordinators and the contractors was required. Weekly meetings were held with the District to review scheduled activities and to coordinate construction with the school calendar and events held on campus.

A project-specific safety plan was developed in conjunction with the school to meet Gilbane’s strong safety standards. All tradespeople had to undergo a background check and drug testing prior to starting work on campus. Work in or around occupied areas of the school were all completed under comprehensive logistics and safety plans that addressed ingress/egress, dust and fumes control, clean-up, safety and noise.

To ensure all contractors were aware of the work going on each day, daily shift start meetings were held to review that day’s work, any controlled access zones and schedules for deliveries or school activities that could affect the construction. These activities were followed by daily stretch and flex sessions for all tradespeople and Gilbane personnel to minimize soft tissue injuries.

Overall, the project team worked over 90,000 work hours with zero lost time accidents and only one recordable accident. At no time were any students, staff or public injured.

– The new building utilizes interactive and a collaborative technology to enhance learning for the department

– The new pedestrian bridge is equipped with innovative sensors to display the forces at play within the structure itself as a continuous learning experience

– The construction of the laboratory space is dynamic, with flexible floor plans allowing the department to evolve over time

– The new space features technology advanced classrooms, research labs, conference spaces, and collaboration spaces

-The expanded facilities increased the accessibility of laboratory experiences by building new teaching laboratories to provide designated space for experiential learning

As CMA, Berglund Construction managed the prime contractors completing the construction activities for the new addition to the Hydrosystems Laboratory building.The three-story, 53,000 square foot addition features modernized, technology-enhanced classrooms, a laboratory, and collaboration space. The addition promotes a collaborative learning for Civil and Environmental Engineering students. The expanded facilities increase the accessibility of laboratory experiences creating dynamic flexible floor plans to enable the program to continue to evolve over the coming decades.

The project also includes a “smart” pedestrian bridge connecting the addition to the Newmark Civil Engineering Laboratory. The bridge is outfitted with sensors providing a learning experience for students and visitors to showcase the forces at play within the structure itself.

The University hired Berglund Construction for this project in which a project budget, schedule, and scopes of work were developed. The project was then publicly bid and included nine (9) Prime Contractors that were contracted direct with the University while Berglund Construction provided oversight and management of the Prime Contractors. Berglund Construction incorporated Lean Construction practices. These practices included weekly coordination meetings with all Prime Contractors and critical subcontractors and quarterly pull planning sessions.

The new Civil Engineering Hydrosystems Laboratory provides a unique state-of-the-art building to provide endless learning opportunities to the students of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Throughout the project, the team also utilized sustainable measures to provide a positive impact on the community and the environment at large. The project is underway for LEED Gold certification.

All Berglund Management was trained in the OSHA 30 Hour and First Responder. Berglund hosted weekly safety “Toolbox Talks,” about relevant topics with the Prime Contractors each week. Berglund’s Site Superintendent conducted weekly safety inspections and reviewed the results with the Prime Contractors for compliance. Additionally, Site Safety meetings were held for high-level scope exposures such as concrete placement, steel erection, and roofing applications. Not only did Berglund require safety data requirements from our Prime Contractor but Berglund held weekly meetings with the owner/client to ensure public, student and pedestrian protective measures with perimeter site fencing, and directional signage.