Bond Work & Sinking Fund Project Update: May 2025
With the passing of the August 2023 Bond, Berkley Schools teams are busy planning for upcoming construction projects. In addition to the Bond projects, the District has a list of Sinking Fund projects that are also in the works to improve and update our facilities. The Sinking Fund was approved by voters in 2018. Because both Bond and Sinking Fund projects are ongoing, these monthly updates will include details on both.
The May update includes construction updates on the new maintenance building, Burton and Pattengill, Berkley High School’s Performing Arts & Pool construction projects, updates on parking changes at BHS and updates on Phase II projects and technology updates.
These monthly Bond & Sinking Fund updates will be maintained on the District’s website. See below for updates on the Phase I projects that are taking place in 2025-2026.
Bond & Sinking Fund Projects - Phase I Timeline
The following is an estimated Phase I timeline for the 2025 projects. These dates may change due to the nature of construction including weather delays, supply chain delays, etc. Many of these projects will impact parking throughout the high school campus.
Underway: Black Box Theatre Construction
Underway: Pool Construction
Underway: The BEAR Complex Construction
Underway: The Den Construction
Underway: Auditorium Construction
June 2025: Science Construction Begins After School Ends
Summer 2025 Construction: Burton & Pattengill - Gym Remodel, Playgrounds, Parking Lots
Fall 2025: Pool Grand Opening
Start of School 2025: Science Classrooms Open
Fall 2025: Burton & Pattengill Multi-Purpose Addition Grand Opening
October 2025: Science Labs Grand Opening
Early Winter 2026: Performing Arts Center Grand Opening (Auditorium, Black Box Theatre, Instrument Commons, Band/Orchestra Rooms)
Fall 2026: The BEAR Complex Grand Opening
Project Updates
Maintenance Building - Sinking Fund
The new Maintenance building is located at the Administrative Offices site in Oak Park, at the end of the parking lot. Just a few items remain for the punch list and the building will be fully complete. The Maintenance Team is moved in, the construction fencing has been removed and the parking lot is back to full size.
Currently, the area right outside the new fence is being used to store four storage trailers for items from the BHS Auditorium and Robotics team supplies.
District-wide Furniture Purchase - Bond - Phase II
The design process for Phase II(B) is complete. The Board of Education approved the purchase of furniture for elementary media centers plus Norup, music room furniture, art room furniture, science lab furniture and furniture for the Adult Transition Program and Robotics at the Den. All furniture orders have been placed and installation will take place over the summer.
Phase I: Burton & Pattengill Multi-Purpose Additions - Bond - Fall 2024
Burton & Pattengill multi-purpose/cafeteria additions are underway. Both additions are scheduled to open in late August 2025. See the latest aerial footage of both Burton and Pattengill’s additions on Superintendent Francis’ Instagram.
Burton
Burton’s new multi-purpose/cafeteria addition will be attached to the building at the northeast corner of the playground by the gym. It will house a new lunchroom, a new kitchen, storage rooms, restrooms and will be a wonderful space for collaboration.
Construction Update:
- Interior and exterior masonry walls are complete. The floor slabs will be installed the first week of June.
- Steel continues to be installed in the high bay of the new addition to form the roofline. Steel installation will continue through the end of May.
- Electrical and plumbing work continues.
- The new playground area inside of the track is nearly complete. As the new area was being completed, the old concrete tunnels were added temporarily, and they have since been removed. The District insurance carrier did not approve those to return to the playground. Instead, additional stepping/climbing equipment will be installed to complete the path that was started. As soon as the new pieces arrive and are installed, the new playground will fully open.
- The City of Huntington Woods has determined that Nadine Ave between Scotia and Henley will remain as a “No Thru Traffic” zone through the construction project. Families will not be able to drop off and pick up on Nadine for the rest of this school year to keep students safe.
Pattengill
Pattengill’s new multi-purpose/cafeteria addition will be attached to the building at the north doors, in the current concrete area. It will house a new lunchroom, a new kitchen, storage rooms, restrooms and will be a wonderful space for collaboration.
Construction Update:
- Interior and exterior masonry wall construction should be complete the week of June 2.
- Steel will be installed as the masonry work wraps up.
- Electrical and plumbing work continues.
- The street tie-in work is complete.
- In addition to the multi-purpose addition, the District is adding parking spaces near the baseball field on Royal as part of the construction.
Phase I: BHS Performing Arts Wing - Bond - Spring 2025
Black Box Theatre/Choir Room
Construction Update:
- Demolition work has begun for the area of the new Black Box Theatre/Choir Room and instrument storage commons.
- The city of Berkley approved the final water retention plan.
- The building pad for the new addition will be installed soon.
Performing Arts Center
Construction Update:
- The Auditorium, Auditorium lobby and the student drop off loop are closed for construction.
- Upgrades to both the Band and Orchestra rooms, as well as upgrading practice rooms, will begin once school is out in June.
- Auditorium demolition is ongoing.
- Auditorium asbestos abatement is complete.
- Electrical work has begun in the auditorium and backstage.
Phase I: BHS Science Wing - Bond - Summer 2025
The BHS Science Wing work includes a complete renovation and redesign for the lab spaces, updates to chemical storage rooms and creating new lab spaces. The Science Wing project timeline includes work beginning once school is complete in June 2025 and the labs reopening in October 2025. Science classrooms will open to students before the labs are complete. Staff will pack up their classrooms and have them ready to move out as soon as school is done.
Phase I: BHS BEAR Complex - Bond - Spring 2025
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 fieldhouse 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:
- Asbestos abatement is complete in both buildings on the property.
- Tree removal has begun on the site where the trees interfere with construction. Some trees along the perimeter will remain.
- The demolition of the fields and buildings will begin on June 2. At this time, the parking lot will close.
- Construction fencing installation is ongoing around the perimeter of the site.
- The new Catalpa crosswalk designs to make it safer for pedestrians are complete and are awaiting permit approval to schedule the work.
Parking adjustments: The BHS parking lot across from the BHS main entrance will close on June 2. On May 30, the east section of the parking lot will close for tree removal. The parking lot will remain closed until the BEAR Complex is complete. Families will be asked to drop students off on side streets, not Catalpa, for the last 10 days of school. As a reminder, no dropping off or picking up is allowed on Catalpa.
Phase I: BHS Pool - Bond - Spring/Summer 2025
The pool scope includes: a new HVAC system, new starting blocks, new diving board, updating tile areas, redoing the pool office and restroom and updates to the chemical system. In addition to this work, the team is adding a new filter system, a new timing system and scoreboard, upgrading lighting and additional plumbing work including replacing the water main leading to the pool. The new scoreboard and timing system has been ordered. Additional mechanical work (filtration and chemical systems) will be completed in spring/summer 2026.
Construction Update:
- The new pool roof is complete and steel reinforcement is in progress.
- Painters are working to finish painting the ceiling and walls (leaving the student artwork intact).
- Once painting is complete, electrical and plumbing work will resume, including installing new lighting fixtures and the new scoreboard system.
- The Crow’s Nest area will be decommissioned and a new scorers table will be installed next to the bleachers on the north side once the pool is complete.
The Den - ATP and Robotics - Sinking Fund - Spring 2025
The former Cana Lutheran Church has a new name - The Den! The Den will house The Adult Transition Program (ATP) and Robotics programs.
Construction Update:
- Lead paint abatement is complete and steel reinforcement is underway.
- Asbestos abatement is complete.
- Demolition is complete and wall framing is underway.
- HVAC and electrical work have begun.
- Fireproofing is nearly complete.
- All new furniture has been selected and ordered.
Phase II: 2025-2026
Angell & Rogers Multi-Purpose Additions - Bond - Fall 2025
Both multi-purpose additions will resemble the Burton and Pattengill designs and function, and will have playground or outside space adjustments to accommodate the new additions. The Board of Education approved the critical services trades at the May meeting and the rest of the bid pack divisions will go to the Board in June for approval. Work will begin this summer in hallway ceilings and a few classrooms to prep for the larger project.
Norup, AMS & Hurley Field - Bond - Spring 2026
The design phase for the Norup, AMS and Hurley Field work that will take place in 2026 will begin soon for updating the gyms, team rooms at Hurley Field, as well as lighting and expanding the parking lot at Hurley.
Burton & Tyler Park Fields - Sinking Fund - 2026
Burton Field
The District project to improve Burton’s field with its professional partners is solidified. The work will include 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. The plan is to have this work begin in Fall 2025, once the Burton playground is reopened. This project is being funded by Berkley Schools, Huntington Woods Men’s Club as well as the City of Huntington Woods and supported by the Berkley Dads Club.
Tyler Park - Softball Field Update
The District Bond/Sinking Fund team is working to finalize the plans for updating 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. On the Oak Park side, a multipurpose field will be updated to fix the drainage issues. A cement 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. Details are nearing finalization so that work can begin in the Spring of 2026.
Technology - Bond
The new staff laptop distribution plan has begun and will continue through the end of the school year. While working through the technology Bond projects, the team is working to secure E-Rate Matching Fund Grants to offset District cost.
Team Meetings
The District teams participate in Steering Committee meetings twice a month with Stantec (architecture, engineering, design), McCarthy & Smith (construction management), and SES (engineering and mechanical systems) to plan timelines of construction, prepare bid documents, as well as pour over details of the scopes of work. Each project has a standard sequence of work: design phase, project cost estimating, bidding for contractors, awarding contracts, construction phase (demolition and building) and finally, project completion.
