Vernon Hills gets new 200-child early learning center: ‘Long term benefit to the community’
A former 15,000-square-foot Vernon Hills ambulance service facility reopened this month as a 200-child early learning center, after a multi-million-dollar renovation that began last year.
Pablo Barreiro, chairman of the Miami-based developer Fortec, called it a “complete rehab” of the building that has created a “long-term benefit to the community” to address the area’s need for early education spaces.
A news release about the opening highlighted the issue of “childcare deserts,” including a report from policy research and advocacy group Center for American Progress that said 46% of young children in the country live in areas where licensed childcare slots fall short of local demand.
The Illinois School Board of Education previously listed the Hawthorn Community Consolidated School District 73 on its priority list regarding early childhood deserts, listing more than 100 slots needed.
The Nest Schools, founded in 2021 by the couple Gerry Pastor and Jane Porterfield, is financially backed by Rockbridge Growth Equity, a private equity group.
There are now three locations in Illinois, according to Nest’s website: Crystal Lake, Barrington and Vernon Hills, with a fourth planned to open in East Dundee. It operates about 60 schools in nearly a dozen states.
Barreiro said the project total was $5 million. According to the release, Fortec bought the site for $1.7 million in September of 2025, and spent another $3 million on construction and $300,000 in closing and due diligence costs.
While the shell of the building remains, it has undergone a “transformation.” It has new HVAC, ceilings, electricals, plumbing, and flooring. There’s a new fire alarm and sprinkler system, as well as upgrades to the building’s access security and a revamped exterior.
“Everything had to be redone,” Barreiro said, “Everything that you can think of.”
The school has 11 classrooms, along with a new outdoor 12,000-square-foot playground. Work began a year ago, and it opened Monday for the 2026-27 school year. The release said it will serve up to 209 students and create 35 jobs.
While Fortec owns the building, the school is operated by Nest. It’s the fourth collaboration for Fortec and Nest, the release said.
In the release, Nest CEO Jessica Van Hoose said the partnership allowed them to bring early education to communities “where families are actively looking,” like Vernon Hills.
“This is our latest step in growing our presence across Illinois, and we’re proud to do it alongside a development partner who shares our belief that the spaces where children spend their earliest years deserve real investment and real intention,” she said.
According to the release, Vernon Hills is “family-dense,” with more than 7,000 children under 9 years old within a three-mile radius of the school.