Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Illinois Elementary School Breaks Ground on Campus Expansion

  • By Matt Jones
  • 03/25/25

Heather Hill Elementary School, part of Flossmoor School District 161 in Palatine, Ill., recently broke ground on a new addition to the school focused on student support and security, according to a news release. The district partnered with Wold Architects & Engineers for the expansion as part of a longer-term facility planning and modernization initiative.

The new space will feature a security vestibule, main office, student support space with collaboration areas, and modernized kindergarten classrooms. The project is part of an ongoing collaboration between the district and Wold, starting in 2017, to update district facilities according to thoughtful, long-term planning efforts; educational priorities; and the goals and expectations listed in the district’s strategic plan, the news release reports.

“We’re excited to bring Flossmoor’s vision to life, creating a more secure, dynamic and supportive learning environment for students and staff,” said Mike Eichhorn, AIA, LEED AP, BD+C, Principal at Wold. “This addition at Heather Hill Elementary isn’t just about expanding space; it’s about enhancing the student experience and fostering a thriving educational community.”

The project is scheduled for completion before the 2025–26 academic year begins, according to the news release.

“We are thrilled to begin construction on this much-needed addition at Heather Hill Elementary,” said Dana Smith, district superintendent. “Through our continued partnership with Wold, we are making our strategic vision a reality, ensuring our facilities foster both safety and academic excellence for generations of students to come.”

About the Author

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

Featured

  • Architectural Power for the Modern Campus Landscape

    For generations, an outdoor classroom only required a textbook and a patch of grass. Today, not only has the laptop replaced the printed pages, the rise of agile learning has turned campuses into study halls with students listening to lectures and researching topics from quads, gardens, and plazas. The challenge for architects and facility managers is to provide connectivity without cluttering the landscape with visual eyesores or creating safety hazards with extension cords.

  • FGCU Breaks Ground on New Health Sciences Building

    Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) has launched construction on a major new academic facility that leaders say will reshape healthcare education in Southwest Florida for decades to come, according to university news.

  • Dallas ISD Voters Approve $6.2B Bond Package

    Dallas ISD voters have approved a record-setting $6.2-billion bond package that district leaders say will modernize aging campuses, eliminate portable classrooms and reshape learning environments across one of the nation’s largest school systems.

  • Deferred Maintenance Issues Growing at Universities, Gordian Reports

    U.S. colleges and universities are falling increasingly behind on facilities maintenance and repair, according to Gordian’s 13th annual State of Facilities in Higher Education report. The deferred capital renewal burden has reached $156 per gross square foot, an 8% increase over the previous year.