Bond Work & Sinking Fund Project Update: January 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 January 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 Burton’s Multi-Purpose addition, the Robotics space 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
• Underway: BHS Black Box Theatre Construction
• Underway: The BEAR Complex Construction
• Underway: The Den Construction for Adult Transition
• Underway: BHS Auditorium Construction
• Underway: Pattengill - New Additions, Gym Remodel, Playgrounds, Parking Lots
• Underway: Angell & Rogers New Additions and Sitework
• Underway: Burton Field Renovation 
• Spring 2026: BHS Performing Arts Center Grand Opening (Auditorium, Black Box Theatre, Instrument Commons)
• Spring 2026: Tyler Park Work Begins
• 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
• Late Fall 2026: The BEAR Complex Grand Opening

 

Project Updates

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

Burton

Burton’s new multi-purpose/cafeteria addition is attached to the building at the southeast corner of the playground by the gym. The new space opened to students on Monday, January 12. Burton held a ribbon cutting ceremony for their students and a sneak peek to get ready for their new routines. The final punchlist items as well as the old kitchen area are being fixed/finished after-hours.

Pattengill

Pattengill’s new multi-purpose/cafeteria addition is attached to the building at the north doors. It contains a new lunchroom, a new kitchen, storage rooms, restrooms and will be a wonderful space for collaboration. In addition, Pattengill’s gym received a makeover, replacing the floor, backboards, padding as well as painting the ceiling.

Construction Update:

• Interior painting is complete.
• Gym floor striping is complete.
• Kitchen equipment has been installed.
• Tile and carpeting is finishing up.
• Inspections have been scheduled for the next few weeks.
• It’s anticipated that Pattengill will open to students in mid-February.

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.
• The ceiling grid will be installed next.
• Interior framing in the hallway and instrument commons is complete.
• Utility work continues.

Performing Arts Center

Construction Update:

• Electrical work continues.
• Framing is complete in the new addition, lobby and auditorium.
• The auditorium has been painted black and a sample area of sound baffling has been added to verify the pattern before the final pieces are installed.
• The epoxy flooring, which is the new flooring underneath the seats, is being installed in the auditorium this week.
• New lobby addition framing is complete.
• 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.
• A new electrical transformer has been installed and power will be switched over during Mid-Winter Break.

Timeline Update:

• The Auditorium will not be ready by the BHS Spring Musical dates. The musical will be moved off site to the Bonstelle Playhouse on Woodward in Detroit.

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:

• Steel framing continues to be installed. The sides of the building are up and the roof framing is now going in. Once the framing is complete, the side panels and roofing material will be installed to enclose the building.
• The finished brick work continues to be installed over the masonry.
• 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:

• The upstairs Robotics area was opened to the team during Winter Break. The team now is practicing and building in their new space.
• Work has been ongoing to improve the heating system and will continue to be addressed in the next few weeks.
• A new roof will be installed in the late spring.
• The lower level work will begin in the new year with plumbing line replacements and an elevator/lift replacement, 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.

 

Roofing Projects

• The District engaged a roofing contractor to evaluate all roofs across the District and created a timeline to repair the most urgent needs first. The first roofing projects have been sent to bid and will be awarded in the next couple of months.

Phase II: 2025-2026

Angell & Rogers Multi-Purpose Additions - Bond

Angell

Angell’s new multi-purpose/cafeteria addition is attached to the building at the south side, adjacent to the art room. It contains a new lunchroom, a new kitchen, storage rooms, restrooms and will be a wonderful space for collaboration. In addition, Angell’s gym will receive a makeover, replacing the floor, backboards, padding as well as painting the ceiling.

Construction Update:

• Angell’s new addition footings are complete.
• The site has been backfilled around the footings so the building construction can begin.
• Angell’s addition has a target date of opening in early Fall 2026.

Rogers

Rogers’ new multi-purpose/cafeteria addition is attached to the building at the west side, in the courtyard. It contains a new lunchroom, a new kitchen, storage rooms, restrooms and will be a wonderful space for collaboration. In addition, Rogers’ gym will receive a makeover, replacing the floor, backboards, padding as well as painting the ceiling.

Construction Update:

• The waterproofing material was installed over the masonry. 
• Finished brick is being installed on the Rogers addition.
• Steel installation is making good progress to form the roof and support beams.
• Rogers’ addition has a target date of opening in early Fall 2026.

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. Over Winter Break, lead paint abatement was completed in the BHS West Gym and Norup Gym to prepare the spaces for larger renovations.

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:

• The last pieces to install are the dugout structures. They will be installed before spring.
• The construction fencing will remain in place until the spring and the sod has had time to take hold in the ground.

Tyler Park - Softball Field Update

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 will begin in the spring once the ground has thawed.

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

The first design meeting was held 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 addition to the BHS school store will be installed during Mid-Winter Break. Over Winter Break, rocking chairs were replaced in the upper elementary classrooms to better fit the desks. This punch-list item was scheduled for many months and was awaiting the new chairs to be manufactured.

Technology

Additional call switches were installed in non-classroom spaces at Angell, Pattengill, BHS and Rogers. At Norup, AMS, Burton and BBB additional call switches are in progress. Burton and Pattengill’s PA upgrade pre-tests are complete and under review. The District-wide staff computer upgrade is nearly complete and an upgrade to District copiers will take place over Mid-Winter Break.