2020 Completions

Poe Classical School Annex & Renovations

The PBC Board has approved a Partial Undertaking Request from the Board of Education for a new annex at Edgar Allen Poe Elementary Classical School.

The project is anticipated to include the construction of a new annex as well as improvements to the existing school and site to support the school’s increased enrollment.

Edgar Allan Poe Classical School is a Level-1+ K-6 school in the historic North Pullman community on Chicago’s South Side. The school was founded in 1905 to serve the children of workers of the rail car company in Pullman. In 1979, Poe became a selective enrollment Classical School, and it now serves a diverse population of academically talented students from all over Chicago.

Follow this project on Twitter @PBCChi #PoeAnnex

View the construction contract details for this project here.

Palmer Elementary School Annex & Renovations

The PBC Board has approved a Partial Undertaking request from the Board of Education for a new annex at John M. Palmer Elementary School.

Improvements at Palmer Elementary are set to include the construction of an addition as well as a new roof,  new paint in classrooms and hallways along with new lockers and floor tile. The modular-classroom unit will be removed and replaced with green space and a playground.

Palmer Elementary is a Level 1+ Neighborhood School located in Albany Park. The school was built in 1925 and is named after John McAuley Palmer, an abolitionist, General of the Union Army, and the 15th Governor of Illinois. Palmer expanded in 1997 and was renovated in 1998. In 2001, an 8-classroom modular was installed.

This is the PBC’s second project at Palmer Elementary School; in 2015, air conditioning was installed at the school as part of the CPS Air Conditioning Program.

Follow this project on Twitter @PBCChi #PalmerAnnex

View the construction contract details for this project here.

McDade Classical School Annex & Renovations

The PBC Board approved a Partial Undertaking request from the Board of Education for a new annex at James E. McDade Elementary Classical School.

The project is anticipated to include the construction of a new annex as well as along with improvements to the existing school and site to support the school’s increased enrollment.

McDade Classical School is designed to provide a challenging liberal arts education to academically-talented students. The curriculum is accelerated in reading and mathematics, language arts, and the humanities.  McDade opened as a neighborhood school in September 1961 and became a classical school for academically-talented students in September of 1978.  The school is named for James Edward McDade, a former Assistant Superintendent of Chicago Public Schools.

This is the PBC’s third project at McDade Classical School; the first two were renovations in 1995 and the construction of a campus park in 2000.

Follow this project on Twitter @PBCChi #McDadeAnnex

View the construction contract details for this project here.

Dirksen Elementary School Annex & Renovations

The PBC Board has approved a Partial Undertaking request from the Board of Education for a new annex at Everett McKinley Dirksen Elementary School

The project is anticipated to include the construction of a new annex as well as improvements to the existing school and site.

Dirksen Elementary was built in 1971, with an annex built in 1972. The school is named after Everett McKinley Dirksen, a former US Senate Minority Leader from Illinois who helped to write and pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Open Housing Act of 1968.

This is the PBC’s third project at Dirksen Elementary: in 1999, the PBC installed a playlot on Dirksen’s campus, and in 2013, the PBC installed a modular classroom building to support CPS’s full-day kindergarten initiative.

Follow this project on Twitter @PBCChi #DirksenAnnex

View the construction contract details for this project here.

Engine Company 115

The new Engine Company 115 Fire Station will be the second-largest fire station in the city, with space for a Chicago Fire Department District Office, an Office of Emergency Management and Communications radio communication tower and three ambulances. The 27,000-square-foot, single-story fire station will be a home-away-from-home for approximately 20 firefighters/EMTs and eight officers: housing sleeping quarters, locker rooms, a workout facility, full-service kitchen with pantry and dining area, day room, laundry, and wellness room. A training space, conference room, and open office space will be shared by the EC 115 team and the CFD District Office. The facility will also feature a state-of-the-art emergency communications hub, watchtower, open office spaces and a 4-bay apparatus room with a hose drying tower.

“Ongoing public safety investments like this state-of-the-art facility would not be possible without the commitment and sacrifice from our local first responders who work to keep our community safe every day. The new Engine 115 firehouse will create the extra space and state-of-the-art training facilities necessary for our firefighters and EMTs. I look forward to getting the work done and cutting the ribbon.”

– 34th Ward Alderman Carrie Austin

The new facility will replace the existing Engine Company 115 firehouse located at 11940 South Peoria Street.

Follow this project on Twitter @PBCChi #EC115

View the design-build contract details for this project here.

Merlo Branch Library Renovation & Modernization

The 15,000-square-foot Merlo Branch Library is undergoing renovation and modernization, bringing a state-of-the-art facility to the Lakeview community.

Merlo Branch Library opened to the public on September 14, 1942. The two-story building was designed by City Architect Paul Gerhardt, while sculptor Abbott Pattison designed the frieze above the front entrance. The building was renovated in 1988, and in June 1993, the former Lake View Branch Library was renamed in memory of John Merlo, a local community leader and long-time Chicago politician.

The PBC’s work at Merlo Branch Library includes restoration of the building’s exterior and facade; energy-efficient upgrades to the mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems; and the installation of new furniture and equipment.

Improvements also include an early learning play space for children, a dedicated teen space with YOUmedia! digital learning lab, additional meeting and study spaces, and refreshed collections. The branch will also have digital skills training available to patrons of any age through the library’s CyberNavigator program.

“The renovation and modernization of Merlo Branch will help children, families and seniors grow in an already a tremendous community asset. I look forward to seeing the library bustle with residents from Lakeview and across the city for years to come.”

– Alderman Tom Tunney, 44th Ward

 

Lakeview Library Reopens After $6 Million Renovation

Follow this project on Twitter @PBCChi #MerloBranchLib