The U-46 School Board tentatively signed off on 18 contracts worth $42 million Monday night as it clears the way for work to start in June on construction of a new elementary school on the former Cook Publishing property in Elgin.
“We can’t wait to get started,” Chief of Staff Brian Lindholm said.
The board needs to formally approve the contracts at its May 4 meeting before demolition and other work can begin on the 850 N. Grove Ave. site, which the district puchased for $2.4 million in late 2024. The property had been the longtime home to the David C. Cook publishing house and distribution center.
U-46 staff has coordinated efforts on the new school with neighboring residents to assure that concerns about traffic, consruction and tree maintenance were addressed. Lindholm said the Northeast Neighborhood Association will be kept updated as construction progresses.
“We are going to make sure we honor the unique and historic neighborhood we are going to be moving into,” Lindholm said.
After the Elgin City Council approved U-46’s plans in February, the district sought bids on a number of contracts in March, opened them in early April and will now finalize them with the May vote, he said. Abatement work on the property is currently underway, and staff is working with the city to secure permits.
The tentative schedule calls for demolition beginning this summer, followed by site grading, utility installation and foundation preparation in early fall. An official groundbreaking will be held in August, after the 2026-27 school year begins, Lindholm said.
Exterior work will continue into mid-2027, when work will transition to the interior aspects of the job, including installation of mechanical, electrical, plumbing and window systems, he said.
“We’re targeting an early 2028 completion. That will allow plenty of time to move in furniture and provide our staff with thorough training on building systems as we prepare to open a new school in August of 2028,” Lindholm said.
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For the board’s benefit, he presented a virtual walk-through of the building.
“You’ll see that DLA (Architects) has done a really nice job in designing a modern elementary school with large open spaces and plenty of windows that provide natural light while using materials, colors and design elements that honor the historical significance of the former David C. Cook property as well as the surrounding homes in the neighborhood,” he said.
The presentation noted that the building will sit at the crest of a hill, allowing it to look down on the Fox River. The 89,000-square-foot school will be set back from North Grove Avenue, with parking and the main entrance on the north side of the property and school bus dropoff and pickup to the south.
There will be a view of the river from the commons and interior wall graphics will illustrate the theme of the design, which incorporates the concepts of earth, air, water and fire.
The building will have a gym, a gross motor room with play equipment for the youngest students, a two-story library with reading nooks, a learning hub able to accommodate two classes at a time, and an outdoor area with patio furniture.
It was also noted that the project is coming in at a price lower than anticipated. It’s estimated the total cost will be about $57.2 million, far less than the projected $65 million, according to a meeting document.
The cost savings reflect strong market competition and favorable pricing conditions, the document said.
Mike Danahey is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.