66832cf9082a65d04062bd61 Oprf Project 2 Edited

$102 million construction project underway at Oak Park, Illinois, high school

July 1, 2024
Oak Park-River Forest High School is replacing its physical education facilities with a modern wing.

The Oak Park-River Forest (Illinois) district has begun work on construction of a $102 million physical education wing at Oak Park-River Forest High School in Oak Park.

The Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest reports that the so-called Project 2 will will include a new swimming pool as part of a total demolition of the physical education facilities at the southeast corner of the Scoville Avenue campus. 
The district says the new wing will have:
● Larger, multiuse gyms that also can serve as a competition spaces
● A 25-yard-by-40-yard pool to replace two 1928 pools, which are at the end of their life
● All-gender locker rooms for gender non-conforming students
● An elevator that complies with accessibility requirements
● A multipurpose/dance gym to replace the existing studio
● A weight room that addresses capacity limitations
● PE classrooms, PE and athletics offices, PE equipment storage, and a conference room
● A new treatment room for athletic trainers
● Boys locker rooms to replace the existing ones, which have a host of problems (poor ventilation, plumbing problems, inadequate toilet space)
● Girls locker rooms, to address space and privacy issues
● Student commons and pre-function space for students waiting for activities or rides and spectators
● Improvements to the performing arts green room, which is not functional for student needs

The construction is scheduled for completion by summer 2026.

The architect is FGM Architects.

About the Author

Mike Kennedy | Senior Editor

Mike Kennedy has been writing about education for American School & University since 1999. He also has reported on schools and other topics for The Chicago Tribune, The Kansas City Star, The Kansas City Times and City News Bureau of Chicago. He is a graduate of Michigan State University.

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