Stevenson High expansion is progressing on time, under budget

The construction of a three-story addition to Stevenson High School's East Building is progressing on time and under budget, officials said.

A $28 million price tag originally was attached to the project, which will add 56,800 square feet to the 870,000-square-foot Lincolnshire school.

A round of construction-related bids came in lower than expected, Stevenson spokesman Jim Conrey said, so the current estimate is slightly more than $27 million.

The steel skeleton of the addition is in place, and structural masonry work has been completed. Most exterior and interior walls are still absent, however.

Officials hope construction crews can finish pouring concrete slabs for the second and third floors this week and begin work on the roof, where a greenhouse will be built.

"So far, things have gone according to plan," Conrey said. "A relatively mild winter helped, as did the absence of any union strikes."

The addition will include more than a dozen new classrooms, breakout spaces for small groups, science labs and an educational courtyard for special education and fine arts programs.

The project will be funded with loans and district savings. Officials also are set to receive a $1 million grant from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation because of planned energy conservation efforts.

Officials are confident the addition will be ready for the start of the 2019-20 school year as planned, Conrey said.