Longfellow Liberal Arts will have a Grand Opening/Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on July 29 at 4:30 p.m. Everyone is invited to attend. Eugene Field is adding final touches and will be ready for a Grand Opening in the next couple of weeks.

Eugene Field Media Center front desk.

Eugene Field Cafeteria Entrance

Eugene Field Cafeteria

The New Academy, (currently located at the Primary Academy) new classroom addition has the exterior shell complete and windows are being installed. The administration area is near completion, and the media center and cafeteria are in beginning phases.

New Academy classroom addition.

Academy new hallway.

Academy new cafeteria.

At the Rock Island Center for Math & Science, classroom addition walls are constructed and almost enclosed. Gymnasium walls are also up. Much progress has been made during the month of July.

Center for Math & Science classroom addition.

Center for Math & Science Classroom interior view.

Center for Math & Science Gymnasium.

Thomas Jefferson Elementary repurposed their kitchen into a cafeteria and expanded the north wall off of the gymnasium to accomodate the new eating area. Tiles are in the ceiling and the flooring will be going in this week. Most of the painting is complete. Project has been delayed slightly and will be complete early in the school year.

Thomas Jefferson cafeteria interior wall.

Thomas Jefferson cafeteria / north gym wall.

Thomas Jefferson cafeteria exterior.

Interior work has been the focus this summer at Ridgewood Elementary. The media center and cafeteria will be ready mid-August.

Ridgewood Cafeteria.

Ridgewood Cafeteria.

Ridgewood exterior construction.

• The Longfellow project has all exterior brick and masonry completed for the classroom addition. The roof is being put on this week and concrete flooring poured. The design of the new brickwork reflects the overall historical design of the building, thus retaining the original look and feel of Longfellow. Cafeteria and serving area has been dry walled and painted, ready for flooring. Media and administration areas are next. The project will be done in August 2009.
• Eugene Field is the furthest along with new cafeteria, media center and classroom areas constructed. The cafeteria addition brickwork is completed and glass block windows are being installed. The small instructional spaces are dry walled and need flooring. The project will be done in August 2009.
• The Academy construction has been held up due to unanticipated challenges with the soil structure. A proper base has been built, and the addition has a 6” rock base. Temporary walls have been set up to allow workers to work on parts of the interior. Anticipated completion is December 2009.
• Most of the work has been underground utilities, electrical, sanitary sewer and storm sewer at the Rock Island Center for Math & Science. Foundations were slated to go in this week, however with rain it has been delayed. Additional grading work was required to the site that was not anticipated. The Center is slated for opening in April 2010.

Board members also approved bids for Thomas Jefferson, Frances Willard and Denkmann construction. An alternate bid for Thomas Jefferson was reviewed, and is good for 45 days with the potential of being funded with the approval of the 1% Sales Tax measure on the April 7 ballot. Ridgewood bids will come in sometime next week. Associate Superintendent Mike Oberhaus reviewed the status of the financing for the Building Excellence plan and currently estimates the use of reserves at $9 million.

Longfellow classroom addition (east side view).

Eugene Field classroom addition (south side view)

Academy addition (southwest view)

Rock Island Center for Math & Science, underground utilities and grade work completed

The Ridgewood addition will encompass the front (north) of the building and create an interior courtyard/corridor space where there is currently a recessed area at the entrance. Moving the new entrance out will create improved accessibility to the parking lot, better security and enhance the aesthetic appearance. The media center will be located off of the front entrance. The reconfiguration of classrooms and the addition will create 6 classroom spaces. Relocating the teacher lounge and work area will allow more space for the separate cafeteria. The cost projection for the Ridgewood project came in at $2,484,504,000.

Click on thumbnails to view:
Thomas Jefferson floor plan & rendering

Ridgewood Elementary floor plans & rendering