$6M Central Athletic Center Overhaul On Table

HINSDALE, IL – Officials are considering an overhaul of Hinsdale Central High School's athletic facility, known as the Bouchard Center.

This is in response to a local group's offer to fundraise for the project. It has created a website called "Bouchard Center Transformation."

The project would feature an expanded athletic training facility, an expanded weight-training area and the addition of restrooms, the group says.

The work is estimated to cost $5.5 million and the designs $412,000. With the equipment, the entire cost is expected to reach $6.2 million.

Hinsdale High School District 86 officials said the district is being asked to cover the design costs. The group would raise the rest.

On Thursday, school board members generally agreed to put out a "request for qualifications" to architectural and engineering firms.

The group said it would like the work to start next summer.

"It's a very accelerated timeline," said Josh Stephenson, the district's top finance official.

Nearly 20 years ago, he said, the district expanded the athletic center.

Since then, the center's use has risen greatly, with more teams treating weight training as a key part of their programs, Stephenson said.

"It's straining the current footprint," he said.

Next Thursday, the board is expected to take a formal vote on issuing a request for qualifications. That process could take at least two months, Stephenson said.

Throughout, the district said it plans to monitor fundraising to make sure it keeps pace.

The money will go through the nonprofit Hinsdale Central Foundation, officials said.