Scarlet Oak School Project Update 12/12/2024

The Scarlet Oak School renovation and addition has gone out to bid this week! The bid notice is located here. Arbor Park SD 145 (hereinafter referred to as the Owner) will receive multiple prime contract bids for the following project until 2:00 pm, local time, on December 19, 2024, at 17301 S. Central Avenue, Oak Forest, Illinois 60452. 

Scarlet Oak School, built in 1964, stands as a testament to the community’s commitment to education but now requires significant updates to meet the needs of today’s learners. The benefits of this project are substantial. These improvements will make the school safer and more secure, extend the useful life of the facility, reduce emergency repair costs, enhance ADA accessibility, create classrooms equipped for modern instructional technology, and provide an inviting and efficient environment for students and staff.

The goals of these updates are fourfold:

  • Enhance Safety and Security: Create safer and more secure learning environments by upgrading building access with secure vestibules and improved infrastructure.
  • Improve Air Quality and Comfort: Provide air conditioning throughout the school, addressing air quality, ventilation, and energy efficiency to ensure a comfortable and healthy learning environment.
  • Optimize Space Utilization: Address overcrowding by reconfiguring spaces to support both current needs and future growth, providing students with an environment that fosters learning and collaboration.
  • Update Critical Infrastructure: Replace outdated mechanical, plumbing, electrical, and Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems, while completing state-mandated repairs to ensure the building remains functional and compliant for years to come.

By addressing these critical areas, we are not only preserving Scarlet Oak School’s legacy but also ensuring it remains a cornerstone of educational excellence in our community. This project will be in multiple phases, allow construction to start while school is still in session.

  • Phase 1 will be breaking ground for the additions in Spring 2025. 
  • Phase 2 will be the "short hallway" (South hallway) classroom remodel in Summer 2025.
  • Phase 3 will be the "long hallway" (east-west hallway) classroom remodels in Summer 2026.
  • The entire building tentatively is scheduled to be completed for August 2026. 

Project Drawings and Documents

As we continue through this journey over the next two years, we will post a monthly update video. This will show planning and progress! 

 

 Scarlet Oak School Project Update 5/30/2024

 

Thank you for your patience while we got our ducks in a row for the new Scarlet Oak!  Over the last few years, we’ve had a variety of projects where we used Green Associates as our architects. To better align with our vision and budget, we researched new firms and the Board of Education selected Cordogan Clark for our Scarlet Oak project. This partnership better aligns with our vision to create the best facility for our staff and students.

As we’ve been saving for this project, with construction costs continuously rising and not going down, it’s best to do a complete renovation on the existing building along with an addition. Engineers looked at the building and the bones are great! The renovation would include refreshed classrooms, cabinetry, windows, and most importantly mechanical including plumbing, HVAC, and electrical.

Over the past few years, the construction industry has been a tough market to navigate.  When the conversations of a new Scarlet Oak School began before COVID, the cost per square foot for construction was under $250.  Then, like other industries, construction costs began to rise. From $350 per square foot in 2021-22, to $500-600 per square foot for new construction that we are currently seeing now.  This has made us reassess our plans for Scarlet a couple of times.

Due to Arbor Park School District’s current debt structure, there is currently a flexibility available for the financing of this project.  The Board of Education could finance this project without the requirement of a referendum and with minimal or no impact on the taxpayer.  That is the goal of our school board.  However, to do this, the district must stick to a hard budget for this project, which can present a challenge with the current market conditions. Due to this limitation, this will determine if Scarlet will be grades 1-3 or 1-4. This all depends on construction costs at the time of the bid opening. We are going for 1-4, but if needed and to stay fiscally responsible, grades 4-8 will be housed at APMS. As we have with past projects, we will get creative in funding alternative sources such as grants and incentive programs.

Here is the projected timeline:

  • October 2024, out to bid
  • December 2024, BOE approval
  • February 2025, start new construction
  • 2 summers (Summer ’25 and ’26) of renovations in the old space
  • August 2026, open entire building (renovated and new).

Thank you!

Dave & Andrew