Willow Glen Resident

Education

Old building at Gardner to be replaced, with multi-use facility by May

By Mayra Flores De Marcotte

The next phase of construction at Gardner Academy is under way.

The grounds along Illinois Avenue are being readied for the construction of a 5,200-square-foot multi-purpose building. It will be 400 square feet larger than the former facility. Once completed, it will include a kitchen, cafeteria, stage, seating area and restrooms.

"The older building is not as conducive as this new building," Gardner Academy Principal Janice Hubbs said. "We can use it for different things--productions, lunch area and community meetings."

Project construction manager Roger Dennis said the steel walls of the building will start going up at the end of October, and the building should be completed by May.

Immediately following the final bell of the school year, demolition of the existing multi-use building will begin.

"In its place there will be a small parking lot and parent drop-off on Willis Avenue," Dennis said.

There will also be section cut-outs on Willis Avenue sidewalk for a bus drop-off. Concurrently, the grass from the field will be torn out and replaced with synthetic turf.

"The biggest advantage to having this type of turf is that there is no maintenance involved," Dennis said. "It's nice and green all year round, and its texture is equal to that of grass."

Dennis said the district is installing this turf in most of its schools, most recently at Washington and Grant elementary schools.

"It has a runoff surface," Dennis said. "After it has been raining, the children can still go out and play because it doesn't get muddy like grass does."

The last step to the construction and renovations at Gardner is the installation of a new 5-foot wrought-iron perimeter fence with decorated panels.