Shovels are one thing, but a project truly breaks ground when the first piece of major equipment hits the ground and starts digging. According to School Superintendent Matt Davis, the project is on schedule in terms of funds raised as well as its expected date of completion.
Photo courtesy of Kristin Herigodt
By Mike Miazga
Correspondent
Timothy Christian Schools’ Project Impact recently took another major step toward reality.
Timothy held a special groundbreaking ceremony on campus earlier last week that attracted some 250 people, which included students, parents, faculty and administration, community members, city of Elmhurst dignitaries, including Mayor Steve Morley, as well as other invited guests.
Project Impact includes the construction of a new state-of-the-art junior-high and athletics building on campus on the space currently occupied by the school’s bus fleet and garage.
“It’s exciting that we are taking the next step in building this,” TC Athletic Director Jack LeGrand said. “We were joking that we want to jump on the excavator and starting digging right now.”
Timothy Christian Schools Superintendent Matt Davidson said the building’s completion still is on target for fall of 2017, likely in the September timeframe. He noted construction fencing was slated to go up earlier this week with further construction staging happening over the next few weeks. He added the demolition of the current bus garage was imminent.
“We’re anxious to get going,” Davidson said. “I don’t know if people realize how big of a building this is going to be. It’s going to be almost 60,000 sq. ft.”
Davidson noted the school’s bus fleet is moving to a site north of town that also will have the capability to provide mechanical services.
Davidson again lauded the efforts of the city of Elmhurst in the pre-construction process.
“The city has been great to work with,” he said. “They are really behind this project. They’ve been very efficient. It’s been a very favorable process.”
In addition to hearing from Morley, Timothy students Sam Alles and Hally Huizenga spoke at the groundbreaking. Both will be members of the first eighth-grade class that will graduate from the new building.
Davidson and LeGrand reiterated the many educational and athletic benefits that will be realized from the new space.
“This will be the premier athletic competition gym in the area,” said Davidson. “As far as going in and watching a ballgame, it’s going to be tough to beat. We’ll have 1,200 seats in the bleachers, an upper-deck area and a multipurpose room that is almost like a suite. We’ll have flat-screens in the lobby where you’ll be able to see the game while you go get a bag of popcorn. It’s going to have a big-time feel.”
Outdoor sports also will benefit from the new arena. An outdoor sports concession stand will be part of the building and will face out toward the outdoor athletic fields. Outdoor sports spectators also will be able to access bathroom facilities in the new building created specifically for those fall and spring sports. The facility also will feature a state-of-the-art athletic training room.
Davidson referred to the new junior-high layout as “21st century learning.”
“It’s not going to be conventional,” he said. “There is going to be all kinds of space for collaboration and group work with common areas to gather. This is not your ‘father’s Buick.’ It’s an innovative change to classroom education. There is going to be a lot of technology involved. We are going to continue with our commitment to technology. The science labs are going to be unbelievable. We just built new ones in the high school and these will be even bigger. This new junior high will provide a lot of opportunities for creativity, exploration and hands-on working.”
Davidson added those flat-screen lobby televisions will be utilized during the school day for education, faculty and professional development.
He also revealed the project has reached more than 80% of its targeted fundraising goal of $16 million (the price tag of the new building).
“Fundraising is going very well,” he said. “We are going to raise every penny of that $16 million. The school has no debt and we will keep it that way.”
LeGrand and Davidson stressed during the design phase, plenty of thought was put into the functionality of the space.
“Besides it being a grand facility, it’s going to be functional for the various uses,” said LeGrand.
Davidson added: “The architects spent considerable time with our teachers and coaches getting their input on things. Everybody is a relevant stakeholder in this process.”
AMDG Architects out of Grand Rapids, Mich., is the architect of record on the project. Executive Construction Inc., out of Hillside is the general contractor of record and V3 Companies out of Woodridge is the engineering firm of record.
“Our construction, design and engineering partners been incredibly helpful and generous,” Davidson said. “We trust these guys.”
