District 225 will begin a $6.7 million summer construction project that includes the renovation of the Old and New pit bathrooms, various roof replacements, and a retrofit of the pool elevator, as well as a relocation of the Nurses’ Office and minor mechanical renovations at North, according to District 225.
The bathroom renovation, authorized by the District 225 School Board, will focus heavily on improving the plumbing and structure of the bathrooms to create larger restroom spaces and introduce more single-use restrooms for privacy–similar to the one-room, private bathrooms near the South Dome, Georges said.
“They will be beautiful and modern,” Georges said. “They are increasing the number of stalls, urinals, and sinks.”
The final cost ended up roughly $2 million under the initial $8.7 million estimate, Dr. Kimberly Ptak, Director of Operations and Chief School Business Officer, said. Several factors contributed to the project coming in under the estimate, including more efficient bathroom layouts compared to previous renovations and the separation of the work for different contractors, Ptak said.
“The bids came in 22 percent under the original estimate, resulting in significant savings for the project,” Ptak said.
The second floor girls’ restroom will be continuous from one hallway to the other, and the boys’ will have one entrance overlooking the staircase, allowing easier access and convenience for students, Casey Wright, Associate Principal of Operations and Student Experiences, said.
“We want to create safe, clean spaces for students and staff,” Wright said.
The administration is preparing for an eight-week construction timeline during which much of the renovations must be completed, Wright said. The work is scheduled to begin May 27, the moment finals end, with a goal of being fully complete by the first day of school 2026, Wright said. The priority will be ensuring functional restrooms are available when students return, even if finishing touches continue into the fall, Wright said.
“There will be more restrooms to utilize, and it’ll be an improvement in the overall experience for everyone,” Wright said.
