Bond Work & Sinking Fund Project Update: August 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 August update includes construction updates on Angell, Pattengill, Rogers, Berkley High School’s Performing Arts Center, Black Box Theatre, The BEAR Complex project, BHS West Gym, Norup and Anderson Team Rooms, Locker Rooms and Gyms, Hurley Field and Tyler Park. Many projects opened for the start of the school year! Be sure to read through the whole update and see the photos of the work!   

 

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 & II
• Complete: BHS Science Wing Construction
• Complete: Burton Multi-Purpose Addition and Gym
• Complete: The Den
• Complete: Pattengill Multi-Purpose Addition and Gym
• Complete: Burton Field Renovation
• Complete: BHS Performing Arts Center (Auditorium, Black Box Theatre, Instrument Commons)
• Complete: AMS Foods Classroom
• Complete: AMS Parking Lot Expansion
• Complete: BHS Courtyard Construction
• Complete: Rogers Multi-Purpose Addition, Gym and Sitework
• Nearly Complete: Angell Multi-Purpose Addition, Gym and Sitework
• Nearly Complete: BHS West Gym
• Nearly Complete: Hurley Field Phase II
• Nearly Complete: Anderson and Norup Team Rooms & Locker Rooms
• Underway: The BEAR Complex
• Underway: Tyler Park Project

 

Black Box Theatre/Choir Room - Bond

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:

• The Black Box Theatre is open for use! 
• The Choir teachers are moved in and classes are taking place.
• The window curtains are installed and the team is waiting on the wall curtains.

Performing Arts Center - Bond

Construction Update:

• The Performing Arts Center is open for use!
• Punch list items remain to fix, but the District has full occupancy of the space.
• Come to the Performing Arts Center Ribbon Cutting and Open House on Wednesday, October 14, at 6:30 pm.

BHS BEAR Complex - Bond

The BEAR Complex (The Berkley Education, Athletics and Recreation Complex) 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:

• A portion of the parking lot is open for students!
• Landscaping around the entire property has begun and adjustments will be made to the north and east parking lot areas to provide shade and cover for neighbors.
• Window installation is complete.
• Drywall has started on the interior areas to frame the windows and team storage areas as well as the Team room.
• HVAC installation continues.
• The interior ceiling work is complete with lights and supports.
• Site work continues to prepare for the outdoor turf field, which is expected to be installed in early September.
• The interior turf field is scheduled to be installed in September.
• Fencing is complete around the perimeter of the property.
• Engineering work is underway to adjust the interior support beams to accommodate the netting system that will be installed close to the end of the project.
• New weight room equipment has been ordered and is expected to be delivered and installed in late December.
• The parking lot and exterior lights are being pointed, programmed and controls are being installed.

The Den - ATP and Robotics - Sinking Fund

The Den is home to the Adult Transition Program (ATP) and Robotics programs. 

Construction Update:

• The Den is open for ATP and Robotics!
• ATP students visited the space with their families on Thursday, August 20 and started school on August 24.
• Landscaping was installed mid-August.
• The sidewalk from the BHS parking lot to The Den was expanded to allow Robotics to drive their trailer to the door and load their equipment.
• Punch list items remain as does some minimal roofing work.

Angell Multi-Purpose Addition + Interior Renovations - Bond

Angell’s new multi-purpose/cafeteria addition is attached to the building at the south side, facing the playground. It will house a new lunchroom, a new kitchen, storage rooms, restrooms and will be a wonderful space for collaboration. Angell’s gym also received a makeover, replacing the floor, backboards, padding as well as painting the ceiling. In addition, the old kitchen area was renovated along with the attached offices.

Construction Update:

• Playground equipment installation is underway.
• The interior space/pod renovation is complete and received fire and building inspector approval prior to school starting. A few punch list items remain and will be completed outside of school hours.
• The gym floor is complete and open for students.
• The backboards will be installed in the gym the week of August 24.
• The masons are complete with the decorative brick on the outside of the new addition.
• The concrete area around the new addition has been poured.
• Angell’s addition has a target date of opening in October 2026.
• New gym pads and sound baffles will be installed later this year, but the original remains in place.

Rogers Multi-Purpose Addition + Interior Renovations - Bond

The Rogers multi-purpose/cafeteria addition is attached to the building in the courtyard on the west side of the building, facing the playground. It houses a new lunchroom, a new kitchen, storage rooms, restrooms and will be a wonderful space for collaboration. The Rogers gym also received a makeover, replacing the floor and backboards as well as painting the ceiling. In addition, the interior spaces behind the gym stage were updated to create office space for support staff and a sensory room for students.

Construction Update:

• The Rogers new addition opened on the first day of school. The work was completed just days leading up to August 24th.
• A punch list remains to finish projects and address any issues found post-construction.
• Grass seed was added to the site and the construction fencing was replaced with shorter landscaping fencing to allow the seed to grow.
• The Rogers gym opened on the first day of school as did the new interior spaces.

Norup, AMS, BHS, BBB & Hurley Field - Bond

The Norup, AMS, BHS, BBB and Hurley Field 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.

BHS West Gym

• The West Gym new floor design graphics are installed. The final seal coat will be applied in the next week and the gym will be fully functional.
• The new scoreboards have been installed and the set up is being completed.
• HVAC and fire system fixes are ongoing and remain on the punch list.

Norup & AMS Team Rooms and Locker Rooms

• Locker rooms at both schools are nearly complete and ready for students and teams.
• Punch list items remain.

Norup Gym

• The new gym floor is done and open for students.
• The new wall pads have been ordered and are expected to be installed later this fall.

AMS Gym

• The new gym floor is done and open for students.
• The new wall pads have been ordered and are expected to be installed later this fall. 

BBB Gym

• The BBB gym floor replacement is complete and open to students.

Hurley Field: Phase II

• New field lights have been installed and training is underway.
• After experiencing a water main break during the week of August 17, the parking lot construction was delayed, but completed on August 23 to open for the first day of school. Additional signs will be ordered to help with traffic flow. Some painting and striping as well as punch list items remain.
• Renovations are complete for the Hurley Field restrooms. 
• The new scoreboard is installed and training is underway.
• The walkway under the home bleachers has been expanded.
• The area south of concessions is still under construction, and will be expanded to become a fenced in grass warm-up area for teams.
• The new team room construction is complete under the home bleachers.

AMS Foods Room

• The construction team worked overtime to finish this room prior to school starting.
• The room is done and in use!
• Punch list items remain including painting and finishes.

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 Administrative Offices roof is complete.
• Norup roofing was completed before school started.

 

BHS Courtyard Construction

Construction Update:

• The courtyard construction is complete.
• Grass seed is down and areas are roped off to allow the grass to grow.

Tyler Park - Sinking Fund

This joint park project combines Berkley Schools and the City of Oak Park properties. On the District side, a new Varsity softball field is being 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:

• New dugout structures are well underway.
• The concrete pad under the bleachers is being framed.
• Utilities are being completed for the new restroom.
• The pre-fabricated restroom structure is built and ready for delivery. It will travel from out of state and should arrive on site in the coming weeks.

Furniture and Fixture Upgrades

• Furniture installation is complete for round three!

Technology

• Additional call switch installations are 95% complete. The last 5% will be finished along with the building construction.
• PA upgrades are complete in all buildings except the Administrative Offices. A pre-test is up next.
• Fiber and structured cable is being installed and coordinated for The BEAR Complex.
• The technology team is coordinating for the sound systems at The BEAR Complex.
• The technology team is reinstalling cameras, clocks and wireless access points in all the finished spaces as they open.
• The District-wide phone upgrade will begin in December.

Next Projects

• Pool Phase III will go out to bid this fall to replace the tile in the pool during summer 2027.
• Weather Tech is completing roofing design work for a portion of BHS, Angell and Pattengill roof repairs. This work will go out to bid this fall and will be completed next summer.
• Renovate The Den heating system.
• Evaluate any remaining funds against the new Facilities Assessment and make plans for additional projects.