Prosser Career Academy Renovations

The PBC Board has approved a Partial Undertaking from the Board of Education for the Charles A. Prosser Career Academy Renovation Project.

The work at Prosser Career Academy includes a newly renovated CTE (Career & Technical Education) wing to support Chicago Builds, a two-year training program in the building trades for 11th and 12th grade students who are interested in pursuing a career in the building trades after high school graduation. Prosser’s CTE wing currently houses programs such as auto mechanics, culinary arts, graphic arts, HVAC, carpentry and a machine shop. This wing’s renovations will include water filtration repairs, interior finish updates, and IT, fire protection, and mechanical systems upgrades. The roof and building envelope will be repaired as needed. Programming improvements are anticipated to include a culinary arts lab, a low voltage/solar lab, digital media labs, a fabrication lab, and a computer classroom with offices and conference room.

The project is also proposed to include site improvements such as parking lot upgrades, landscaping and ADA accessibility improvements.

The CTE programs at Prosser will be modernized to align with the Chicago Federation of Labor and industry training partners. Labor partners will provide technical assistance to students and teachers to ensure programs align with industry standards and stay current to industry trends. Prosser students will have access to opportunities in pre-apprenticeship programs and unique paid internships with industry partners in chosen career paths. Students will also have the opportunity to earn dual credits through the City College of Chicago partnership. More than 90 percent of Prosser students in 2018 graduated with at least one early college and career credential.

“This is a huge investment into the future careers of the hundreds of students who attend Prosser Academy. We are proud to help students launch into careers that will make a difference in building a stronger future both for our graduates and employers across Chicago.”

– Alderman Gilbert Villegas, 36th Ward

This is the PBC’s second project at Prosser Career Academy; the first was a science lab renovation in 1993.

Follow this project on Twitter @PBCChi #ProsserReno

View the construction contract details for this project here.