Building demolition in full swing at Carol Stream village hall
There's a method to the messy work of reducing three-quarters of Carol Stream's village hall to piles of rubble.
Crews are meticulously sifting through the debris to salvage steel, porcelain, concrete and other materials that will end up in recycling centers. It's one example of the environmentally friendly construction practices embraced by the village's contractors for a major overhaul of the Gary Avenue building, officials say.
Employees and police moved to temporary offices before the village broke ground late last month on the $19 million, two-year project funded entirely by cash reserves.
Demolition of the west side of the building is now in full swing. And many of the first-floor offices are gutted.
A large crane is tearing down some of the walls, and a Bobcat is taking out reusable materials. Wooden doors and cabinets, for instance, will be ground up for mulch. Crushed porcelain toilets, concrete and brick also will eventually form a base for roads.
The village is not seeking a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, certification, from the U.S. Green Building Council.
"But we're trying to comply as much as possible with environmental standards," Assistant Village Manager Bob Mellor said.
After demolition, crews will begin excavating below ground to make way for a three-level addition that includes a basement with additional offices and storage space.
On June 8, village officials will be opening the project's second package of sealed bids for installation of precast concrete, plumbing, structural steel and elevators. Trustees then will review a recommendation by village staffers about which contractors to hire at a board meeting June 19.
The goal is to have all the addition's walls up and the roof constructed before October or November, so crews can work inside the structure during the winter. Despite a soggy start in May, the work remains on schedule, Mellor said.
"It hasn't been bad enough where it's stopped the contractors," he said.
The village expects to complete the project in December 2018. The addition will increase the building's footprint from 40,400 square feet to 68,750 square feet.
Renovations to the rest of the municipal center will alter the building's layout. The village's main operating offices will be on the first floor to offer ease of access for residents and a more streamlined orientation, Mellor said. With sustainability in mind, lights and bathroom fixtures will be outfitted with motion sensors to turn off water and electricity when not in use.
Until the expanded building reopens, the village is running business out of Suite No. 400 in the southern end of a leased facility at 505 E. North Ave., west of Schmale Road.
The village board and plan commission will continue to host meetings at Carol Stream Fire District's Station No. 28 at 365 N. Kuhn Road.
Trustees have agreed to spend no more than $19 million on the cost of construction, the relocation and hiring consultants.