West Chicago High School modernizes historic auditorium, advances 876-kW solar project
Key Highlights
- The auditorium renovation includes new seating, flooring, acoustics, lighting, and accessibility features, scheduled for completion next fall.
- A rooftop solar system with 875.56 kW capacity will be installed, featuring 1,484 solar modules and advanced monitoring for performance tracking.
- The project integrates historic preservation with sustainability, leveraging incentives and performance contracting to optimize costs and energy savings.
- A public display will inform visitors and students about the solar system’s energy performance, promoting awareness and education.
- The initiative exemplifies a strategic approach to facility upgrades, balancing preservation, accessibility, and renewable energy to enhance community and student experiences.
As part of its 100th anniversary, West Chicago Community High School announced that renovations to its historic auditorium are underway while advancing plans for an 875.56-kW rooftop solar photovoltaic system as part of a broader facilities improvement effort. The planned auditorium renovation project, which is expected to be complete next fall, includes upgrades to seating, flooring, finishes, acoustics, lighting, accessibility, curtains, and architectural details throughout the main floor and balcony with the goal of modernizing the space while preserving its historic character.
Allied Facility Partners is leading the work for Community High School District 94, with DLA Architects providing architectural services for the auditorium renovation, according to a press release. Specific improvements include replacement seating and carpeting, accessible wheelchair seating, plaster restoration, painting, new acoustical wall panels, finish carpentry, resilient flooring, new curtains and valances, and updated lighting and controls.
The project team also planned construction around ongoing school activities, allowing the district to improve a heavily used student and community space without taking it out of service for an extended period.
Solar installation to support district energy goals
Allied said the project scope includes final system design, structural engineering, utility interconnection, permitting, equipment procurement, installation, commissioning, staff training, and cloud-based performance monitoring according to the announcement. A public-facing display near the school’s main entrance also is planned to give students, staff, and visitors access to information about the system’s energy performance as well.
Applications for renewable energy credits and rebates will also be coordinated by Allied and will help the district and its advisors prepare documentation for applicable federal investment tax credits.
Why this matters
West Chicago’s approach offers a case study on how districts can use a broader capital-planning strategy to address both aging facilities and long-term energy performance. Rather than treating preservation, accessibility, and sustainability as separate initiatives, District 94 is combining the modernization of a century-old gathering space with a major renewable-energy investment, which gives the district an opportunity to improve the student and community experience while also addressing operating costs and energy use.
The project also highlights the role of performance contracting and available incentives in helping districts move energy projects forward—an increasingly important consideration for K–12 facilities leaders balancing aging buildings with limited capital budgets.