Add as a preferred source on Google

Illinois District Breaks Ground on Two New Junior High Schools

  • By Matt Jones
  • 10/01/24

Joliet Public Schools District 86 in Joliet, Ill., recently began construction on two new junior high schools—the district’s first new schools since 2011, according to a news release. New facilities for Hufford Junior High School and Gompers Junior High School will serve the east and west sides of the city and be built next to their current facilities, which will be demolished after the project is complete. The district is partnering with construction management firm Nicholas & Associates on both facilities.

Funding comes from a $99.5-million bond that voters approved in a 2023 referendum. Both schools are more than 66 years old, and their new counterparts will include upgrades like larger classrooms and hallways, improved ADA accommodations, enhanced technology, safety and security upgrades, and sustainability initiatives. Both schools combined will serve about 1,800 students, the news release reports.

“Beautifully designed and constructed with today’s learning environment in mind, these state-of-the-art facilities will enhance the lives of the students and families of Joliet for generations to come,” said Nicholas & Associates Vice President Joe Papanicholas.

The district enrolls a total of 9,363 students, according to the news release.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Countway Library at Harvard Medical School

    From Shadows to Sanctuary: The Transformation of Light at Countway Library

    The renovation of Countway Library at Harvard Medical School demonstrates how biophilic design and advanced lighting strategies transformed a formerly dark, insular space into a vibrant, welcoming hub that supports wellness, learning, and community engagement.

  • University of Kentucky Receives $150M Gift Toward New Arts District

    The University of Kentucky’s Board of Trustees recently received a $150-million gift from The Bill Gatton Foundation, according to a university news release, to build a new arts district on the campus in Lexington, Ky. The new district will feature a new College of Fine Arts building and a multi-hundred-seat theater, among other amenities.

  • UCNJ Launches $30M Modernization of Physical Education Center

    The Union College of Union County (UCNJ) in Cranford, N.J., recently broke ground on a new $30-million modernization project for its Physical Education Center (PECK), according to a news release. The college partnered with DIGroup Architecture for the project’s design, transitioning the existing 42,000-square-foot structure into a campus hub for student athletics and campus life.

  • Malibu High School Campus Completes $102M Phase 1 of Construction

    Malibu High School in Malibu, Calif., recently announced that it has completed phase 1 of construction for its new campus, a news release reports. The first phase consisted of developing and modernizing the site of a former elementary school into a new, 70,000-square-foot, two-story facility.

Digital Edition