District presents schematic design, phasing and budget approach for Joliet West Phase 3

District architects and construction managers presented schematic-design details for Phase 3B of the Joliet West campus master facility plan, describing project scope, phasing, budgets and a tentative procurement timeline.

Niti Shah, project manager with White and Company, and Carmine Calabria, the project architect, said work completed in prior years includes indoor-air-quality upgrades, athletic-field work and parking improvements. For Phase 3 at Joliet West the team described four major groups of work: locker-room renovations and attendant athletics-support spaces; applied-life classroom renovations and additions (three-room culinary arts addition); classroom and toilet-room renovations; and a remaining roof replacement for building D (over gym and weight room). The team said some athletic fields (baseball/softball) and culinary additions are scheduled to be completed by this summer, and corridor/circulation work (PPS consolidation) is starting this summer to create a new north–south corridor to relieve congestion.

Design status and schedule: the team said they have completed schematic design and are in design development; they plan to issue bids in October, bid through November and target the December board meeting for contract award to set up summer construction buyouts. As with prior phases, the estimate structure separates construction hard costs from contingencies (escalation, design and construction contingency) and owner soft costs (abatement, furniture/fixtures/equipment, architect/CM fees). The presenters noted the district is watching market conditions and will stage bids to control costs.

Scope highlights: the project will reconfigure and modernize locker rooms (including demolition of unused showers, new lockers, ADA-compliant single-user toilet rooms and improved supervision sightlines), convert some former PPS spaces back into classrooms, provide applied-life (PLTW/CTE-type) classrooms and improve wayfinding and branding in athletics cores. The presentation also noted a future Phase 4 student-center addition that would affect parking sequencing; the team described a potential 2027 start for that larger addition depending on bond timing.

Financing and bond timing: district staff said the plan will be funded using life-safety bonds rather than referendum bonds; the board asked and district representatives confirmed the bonding type. The district also reported it has adjusted the phasing and timing of bond sales and may delay issuance to optimize market conditions, with a target to use fund balance and bond-counsel guidance to maximize proceeds.

Ending: Project managers said they will produce a design-development estimate next and return to the board for award of contracts per the projected schedule. The board and project team emphasized minimizing classroom disruption during summer construction and ensuring parity of upgrades across both campuses.