11/29/2001
The Public Building Commission of Chicago has formally accepted the request of the Board of Education to oversee construction of the new McNair Elementary School on the city’s West Side.
At its November meeting, the PBC board agreed to undertake construction of the school, with the goal of having the new building open for students and staff in time for the 2003-04 school year, according to PBC executive director Eileen Carey.
Based on plans developed by the school system, the new building on the 4800 block of West Walton Street will accommodate nearly 1,000 students in 37 classrooms. The building also will include art, science and music labs; a gymnasium and a cafeteria; two fenced-in play areas and a parking lot.
The PBC board also awarded the McNair School construction contract to F.H. Paschen/S.N. Nielsen Inc., a Chicago-based contractor. The Paschen/Nielsen firm was the lowest of five bidders when the Board of Education solicited bids to build the new school.
Paschen/Nielsen’s winning bid was $13.5 million. The company committed to using minority workers for at least half of the laborer, apprentice and journeyman work performed on the construction site.
Also, the PBC approved Parkman & Weston Associates, an African-American-owned firm, as the architect on this project.
Construction is expected to begin this spring.
