District 207 hires construction manager for $240.7 million project

Maine Township High School District 207 has selected a construction manager to oversee its $240.7 million project to upgrade facilities.

The school board voted Monday to approve hiring Pepper Construction Co. to manage construction at the district's three high school buildings. The firm will be paid $12.2 million, a fee that was planned for as part of the total cost.

"We believe strongly that bringing the construction management firm in at this stage of the project will help us find significant economic efficiencies for the entire scope of the project and that was a focus in our interview process," Superintendent Ken Wallace said in a news release.

Pepper Construction will join architect Wight & Co. as part of the construction team. The school district is working on hiring a financial adviser related to issuing bonds. When the full team is assembled, a timeline for construction and staging will be developed, officials said.

District officials anticipate construction will begin in spring 2020 and be completed by the end of summer 2022.

The project includes infrastructure improvements, enhanced safety and security at the buildings and updated classrooms, as well as a new field house at Maine West.

In November, voters approved issuing $195 million in bonds to help fund construction. The remaining cost will be covered by district reserves.