Sycamore Community Schools

Through meticulous planning and innovative thinking, we helped Sycamore Community Schools realize their vision for new and improved learning environments while limiting disruptions to their students

HGC has partnered with Sycamore Community Schools on several renovation, expansion and new construction projects to meet the needs of their growing school community. Our work includes:

  • Renovation and expansion of Symmes Elementary
  • Full interior renovation, new exterior main entry, relocated bus lot, new gym floor and renovated locker rooms at Sycamore High School
  • Renovated Sycamore High School natatorium, an extensive project that required major demolition efforts to support a new 75-foot, 8-lane competition pool
  • Site work and prep of a new turf field, parking lot, concessions and restroom building, field house and additional site improvements at Sycamore Athletics Facility

Delivery Method:

Construction Management

Project Type:

Renovation and New Construction

Industry:

LEARN

Architect:

SHP

The Challenges

One of the most challenging aspects of school construction projects is completing the necessary work without disturbing students as they’re trying to learn. Often, major construction is reserved for summer months, which can delay timelines and bloat budgets. 

The renovation of the Seger Family Natatorium was a challenging project in and of itself. In addition to the complete demolition of the existing pool and superstructure, our team needed to remove two exterior walls, the roof and all MEP systems to pave the way for a significant expansion and modernization of the facility.

Project time frame

HGC shortened this project time frame from four years to 2.5 years through innovative solutions that kept construction going year round.

The Solutions

To support the deep excavation required for the new, larger pool, we installed a lagging system with drilled caissons to safeguard the existing school foundations. This new superstructure is built to last, featuring CMU and steel bearing walls, long-span joist girders, a durable new roof and a brick veneer exterior that blends seamlessly with the existing architecture.

To enable our teams to work on the Sycamore High School project year round without disrupting students or encroaching on classroom space, we repurposed existing areas within the building to construct 17 temporary classrooms, temporary offices for administration and counseling, and a temporary kitchen. This avoided the need for trailers (something the school was adamantly against) and allowed the school to maintain the same number of classrooms inside the building while supporting other student needs. We also constructed a new two-story glass-enclosed space inside the existing library, which provided an additional temporary classroom for the remainder of the project as well as a new book room for the library.

Backed by years of experience with both K–12 and higher education construction projects, our solutions-oriented approach enables us to employ innovative strategies and navigate logistical challenges to keep students learning while we improve their spaces. Learn more about how we do it here.

Hard work. Craftsmanship. Putting the customer first. Doing it right.

Our business was built on these values — and they continue to drive our people, our projects and our culture today.

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