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

  • Opportunity by Design Framework

    Opportunity by Design

    Educational improvement efforts often focus on curriculum, instruction, assessment, professional development, and intervention systems while treating the physical school building as background. But school design is not a passive backdrop to learning — it is a structural lever for equity.

  • University of Mary Washington Selects Builder for New Theater, Dance Facility

    The University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Va., recently announced that it has selected construction and development firm Skanska to lead a series of renovations and upgrades to fine arts facilities, according to a news release.

  • Texas A&M Opens First Building at Fort Worth Campus, Breaks Ground on Research Facility

    The Texas A&M University System marked a major milestone in the development of its Fort Worth campus by opening its first completed academic building and breaking ground on a second facility designed to expand research and industry collaboration.

  • Esports are Growing in Popularity

    Video games and esports are a popular social hobby, and it’s one that’s accessible to a wide variety of physical ability levels. Some esport student-athletes have started to earn scholarship opportunities, and high schools are beginning to form teams equipped with the same degree of resources as their physical sports teams. However, the two have very different needs.