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OPRF Project 3 on time and on budget so far, district and contractor report
Summary
District and Gilbane construction officials told the Oak Park–River Forest Board of Education on April 24 that Project 3 is moving from excavation to vertical work, with foundations about 85% complete and major mechanical equipment staged on site.
District construction and Gilbane representatives reported progress on Project 3 at the April 24 board meeting, saying the project is on schedule and within the currently reported budget.
Tony Arbogast for the district and Jeff Bergman, director of construction, turned the presentation over to the Gilbane team, who said about 34,000 man-hours had been completed this quarter with zero lost-time incidents. "Our foundation concrete foundation is about 85% complete," a Gilbane representative said, and the team said steel fabrication is about 90% complete and staged nearby.
The presentation listed key milestones and procurement status: major mechanical equipment (air handlers, chillers, pumps) is on site, geothermal tie-ins are underway, and masonry and steel activities will begin as the project moves vertical through summer and fall. The contractor said Project 3 is roughly 18% complete and that remaining contingency sits at 1.5% with trade allowances at 1.8%.
Speakers discussed weather-related impacts and mitigation steps: recent heavy rain cost roughly six days of work in the quarter, but crews worked additional days to recover schedule. The team also noted two "soft notices" from suppliers — one from an elevator manufacturer and one from glass and glazing for possible aluminum pricing impacts tied to tariffs — and said they were monitoring potential financial effects, not material delays.
Board members asked about a ComEd transmission line crossing the geothermal tie-in corridor. Gilbane said it has coordinated a plan to expose the line safely and route geothermal piping around it; cost implications are not final and could require a separate agreement with ComEd once the utility's proposal arrives.
On schedule questions, the contractor said the addition is tracking to a July 2 substantial-completion target and renovation work in the west school is expected to finish by the July 31 contract date. District and contractor staff said July and August will require heavy coordination for technology, furniture and equipment installations before the new spaces are used in the fall.
No board vote was required on the update; the presentation was informational and followed by member questions and staff answers.
