The District 233 school board, in a cost-cutting move, approved changes to the Performing Arts Center (PAC) in May 2019. Now one of those changes need to be corrected.
The board unanimously agreed March 15 to spend $204,137 to help reduce outside noise in the newly constructed choral and orchestra rooms, as well as the PAC. The space officially opened in January 2021, but Homewood-Flossmoor High School students were on a remote learning schedule due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Students returned to H-F this school year and that is when the noise disruptions from the H-F parking lot and passing cars on Kedzie Avenue became apparent.
“During the time we were completing the Fine Arts Center there was a recommendation for cost savings,” Superintendent Von Mansfield told board members. “One of things was sound proofing around the perimeter. We were hoping the building would forego those disturbances. At this juncture they have not.”
CMM Group of Lansing won the bid to install new aluminum glazed curtainwalls on the interior side of existing openings in the Performing Arts Center, choral room, orchestra rooms and install and provide new acoustical rated door assemblies in the PAC and choral room. The approved bid covers the construction costs. Work is set to begin May 30 and be completed by Aug. 1.
The arts addition onto the South Building includes a 30,000 square foot music wing and performing arts center, and 9,000 square feet of remodeled space for the fine arts program. The building and remodeling work cost $14.34 million. Cosgrove Construction of Joliet was the contractor.