Serving as the Construction Manager at Risk, S. M Wilson & Co. has completed a $23.8 million renovation and addition project at Rochester High School in Rochester, Illinois, to build a state-of-the-art science wing, upgrade athletic facilities, enhance security and add a new student commons area and offices.
This is the third construction program that S. M. Wilson has completed with Rochester Community Unit School District #3A. BLDD Architects serves as the district’s design partner.
A 20,000-square-foot science wing that will enhance the school’s STEM instruction was built in place of the 1993 high school wing, which was demolished. On January 17, the district hosted an open house to give students their first chance to explore the new science wing and then celebrated with a community ribbon-cutting ceremony on January 21.
As part of the project, S. M. Wilson also upgraded the school’s baseball, softball, soccer, football and tennis athletic facilities. The improvements enhance the game-day experience for athletes and fans, including expanded bleacher seating, a synthetic turf field, improved lighting, an advanced LED video scoreboard, a locker room for visiting teams and a new track surface. Security entrances were added at the main entrances of both Rochester High School and Rochester Elementary School.
Since projects were constructed on an active educational campus, safety and minimizing disruption to the learning environment was S. M. Wilson’s top priority that was achieved through planning methods and project sequencing
