1/13/2009
Construction of the new Avondale-Irving Park Area Elementary School, to be located at 3231 N. Springfield Ave., drew closer today as the Public Building Commission of Chicago’s Board of Commissioners approved a contract for the construction of new school.
Progress also was recorded on two branch libraries as the Board named a firm to serve as the Architect of Record on the projects.
“Education can come in many settings, and the Public Building Commission is proud to help facilitate opportunities for lifelong learning,” said PBC Executive Director Erin Lavin Cabonargi. “By bringing a school to one community and libraries to two others, we help to create community anchors that serve citizens for generations to come.”
The new Avondale-Irving Park Area Elementary School, projected to be ready in fall of 2010, will follow a prototype design spreading 106,000 square feet among three floors. Intended for 900 students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade, the school will feature a variety of classrooms, including computer and science labs and art and music classrooms. A library, a gymnasium and dining facilities also will be included. The school is targeting a “Silver” rating under the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standard.
The PBC Board today approved the selection of the Leopardo-Reyes Group joint venture to build the new school, as the joint venture submitted the lowest of 12 qualified bids. The total contract price for the bid was $25,739,658, and the joint venture has committed to approximately 25 percent Minority-owned Business Enterprise (MBE) and 4 percent Woman-owned Business Enterprise (WBE) participation.
The board also approved the firm of Lohan Anderson to be the Architect of Record for the Greater Grand Crossing and West Humboldt branch library projects, a move that ensured continuity across future library development. Lohan Anderson served as the Design Architect for the branch library program, developing the prototype plans that these two libraries and others will follow, and by serving as the Architect of Record, the firm will be able to monitor the two initial projects and incorporate lessons learned into future library design.
The PBC manages construction and renovation projects for the City of Chicago and its other sister agencies. Mayor Richard M. Daley serves as the PBC’s chairman. Additional information about the PBC and its projects is available at the agency’s Web site: www.pbcchicago.com.
