Bond Work & Sinking Fund Project Update: February 2026

With the passing of the August 2023 Bond, and the 2018 Sinking Fund, Berkley Schools teams are busy planning for upcoming construction projects and monitoring current construction projects. Because both Bond and Sinking Fund projects are ongoing, these monthly updates will include details on both.

 

The February update includes construction updates on Angell, Pattengill, Rogers, Berkley High School’s Performing Arts Center, Black Box Theatre and The BEAR Complex project. It also includes photos from Pattengill’s Multi-Purpose addition grand opening  and a few timeline updates.

 

These monthly Bond & Sinking Fund updates will be maintained on the District’s website. See below for updates on the projects that are taking place in 2026.

 

Bond & Sinking Fund Projects - Phase I & II Timeline

The following is an estimated timeline. These dates may change due to the nature of construction including weather delays, supply chain delays, etc. 

 

• Complete: BHS Pool Construction, Phase I
• Complete: BHS Science Wing Construction
• Complete: Burton Multi-Purpose Addition and Gym
• Complete: Robotics Spaces at The Den
• Complete: Pattengill Multi-Purpose Addition and Gym
• Underway: BHS Performing Arts Center (Auditorium, Black Box Theatre, Instrument Commons)
• Underway: The BEAR Complex
• Underway: The Den Construction for Adult Transition
• Underway: Angell & Rogers New Additions and Sitework
• Underway: Burton Field Renovation 
• Underway: Tyler Park Project
• Spring & Summer 2026: Anderson, Norup, BBB & BHS Gyms, Locker Rooms & Team Rooms at Anderson and Norup, AMS Foods Classroom, Hurley Field Phase II, AMS Parking Lot Expansion, BHS Pool Phase II
• Winter 2026-27: The BEAR Complex Grand Opening

 

Project Updates

Phase I: Burton & Pattengill Multi-Purpose Additions - Bond

Burton

Burton has a few punch list items left for the outside of the building, but otherwise the project is complete.

Pattengill

Pattengill’s new multi-purpose/cafeteria addition opened to students on Monday, February 23. The new addition is attached to the building at the north end and contains a new lunchroom, a new kitchen, storage rooms and restrooms. 

Construction Update:

• Pattengill still has a few items that need to arrive in the new addition as well as punch list items to resolve. This work will take place after school hours and on weekends.

Phase I: BHS Performing Arts Wing - Bond

Black Box Theatre/Choir Room

The Black Box Theatre/Choir Room is being added to complete the Performing Arts Wing. The space will be used during the day for choir classes and after school for performances and rehearsals, to complement the auditorium. 

Construction Update:

• Painting is complete.
• Ceiling grid installation has begun.
• Utility work continues.

Performing Arts Center

Construction Update:

• Electrical work continues.
• The dressing room remodel work is nearly complete.
• The auditorium has been painted black and sound baffling is being installed.
• Epoxy flooring underneath the seats is complete.
• New lights are being installed.
• Work will begin soon on supporting the stage rigging system to prepare it for the new digital wall that will be installed as part of the upgrades.
• The wood framing around the doors into the theatre have been installed.

Phase I: BHS BEAR Complex - Bond

The District Field House project is now named The BEAR Complex (The Berkley Education, Athletics and Recreation Complex). The BEAR Complex includes a 60-yard indoor field house that includes a new weight room, team room and trainer room, an outdoor 120-yard turf performance field with lights, parking lot expansion and new configuration and a grass field north of the turf field. 

Construction Update:

• The steel roof and wall framing is nearly complete and next steps include installing metal panels and enclosing the building.
• The finished brick work continues to be installed over the masonry as well.
• Electrical work continues for the Field House interior.  

The Den - ATP and Robotics - Sinking Fund

The Den will house the Adult Transition Program (ATP) and Robotics programs. 

Construction Update:

• Work has been ongoing to improve the heating system.
• A new roof will be installed in the late spring.
• The lower level plumbing work has begun. A new elevator/lift has been purchased, and once the ground is thawed, the outside water retention work will commence.
• Until The Den is ready, the Adult Transition Program has relocated to Berkley High School.

 

Phase II: Angell & Rogers Multi-Purpose Additions - Bond

Angell

Construction Update:

• Angell’s new addition footings are complete.
• Utility connections were made under the Angell staff parking lot during Mid-Winter Break.
• Angell’s addition has a target date of opening in early Fall 2026.

Rogers

Construction Update:

• Finished brick is being installed on the Rogers addition.
• Exterior steel canopies and flashing are being installed.
• Rogers’ addition has a target date of opening in early Fall 2026. 

Phase II: Norup, AMS, BHS, BBB & Hurley Field - Spring/Summer 2026

The Norup, AMS, BHS, BBB and Hurley Field work has been bid out and the projects were approved by the Board of Education. The project includes updating the school gym floors, paint and equipment at AMS, Norup and BHS as well as renovating the locker rooms and team rooms at Norup and AMS. Hurley Field work includes updating team rooms, restrooms, field lighting, replacing the visitor bleachers, adjusting flow and fence lines, a new scoreboard and expanding the parking lot to improve available spaces as well as traffic flow. In addition, the work includes replacing the gym floor at Berkley Building Blocks, and upgrading the BHS West Gym with air conditioning, lighting and new paint and a renovation of the kitchen space in the AMS Foods Room. The BHS Pool will undergo mechanical work, too.

Construction Update

• Work is being done to prepare space at Anderson for trucks to be able to deliver materials for the Hurley Field work.

Roofing Projects - Sinking Fund

 

The District hired a roofing contractor to evaluate all roofs across the District and created a timeline to repair the most urgent needs first. The Board of Education approved roofing work for Norup, The Den and the Administrative Offices. The Den work will begin in the spring and with the other projects happening this summer. In addition, smaller roofing projects are taking place soon at Berkley High School to repair a few issues. 

Burton & Tyler Park Fields - Sinking Fund

Burton Field

The District project to improve Burton’s field with its professional partners is nearly complete. The work includes fixing the ponding, replacing the dirt infields with grass infields and preparing the site to have a multi-purpose use as well as include two diamonds to host t-ball games. 

Construction Update:

• Dugout structures were delivered this week.
• The construction fencing will remain in place until the spring and the sod has had time to take hold in the ground.

Tyler Park - Sinking Fund

Plans are complete for Tyler Park with City of Oak Park officials. On the District side, a new Varsity softball field will be built with lights, permanent fence, dugouts, stands, scoreboard, bullpens and batting cages. The District property will also have a practice softball/baseball field for middle school students. On the City of Oak Park side, a multipurpose field will be updated to improve the drainage issues. A walking path will also be added to both properties to allow for a full path connecting the parking lots to the fields and for the community to enjoy. On the District side of the property a small restroom facility will be built as well.

Construction Update:

• Construction materials were delivered during Mid-Winter Break.
• The construction fence installation began on February 24.
• Tyler Park neighbors received a joint letter from Berkley Schools and the City of Oak Park with details of the project as well as expectations for construction.

District Facilities Assessments

The District Bond Team is planning a wide-scope assessment of many systems and spaces over the next couple of months. This will allow the team to understand the highest facility needs outside of the current Bond and Sinking Fund scope, to be paid for with Bond savings and projects coming in under estimates. The team will focus on maximizing the remaining budget to have the highest impact on system efficiencies and student and staff experiences.

Furniture and Fixture Upgrades

• Design meetings continued in February for the final phase of furniture work to upgrade smaller spaces, desks for ancillary staff, middle school computer science classrooms, as well as Norup, Anderson and Rogers offices. 
• The new BHS school store showroom area was installed during Mid-Winter Break. 
• New music shelves have been purchased.

Technology

Additional call switches were installed in non-classroom spaces at Angell, AMS, Pattengill, BHS and Rogers. Norup, Burton and BBB additional call switches are in progress. Burton and Pattengill’s PA upgrade pre-tests are complete and the switch over is being scheduled. The Board of Education approved a contract to update the sound systems in gymnasiums and media centers across the District. This system upgrade will begin in the spring and be completed before the first day of school.