Helicopter To Be Used For LTHS Project

LA GRANGE, IL — Lyons Township High School's board is considering $6.3 million in projects, one of which is expected to include the use of a helicopter.

This week, the administration recommended the board go with Northbrook-based F.E. Moran as the contractor. An architect told the school board Monday that the company has the ability to get a lot of projects done during a relatively short time in the summer.

"F.E. Moran is probably the only one who I felt could accomplish this," Ed Wright of Itasca-based DLA Architects said. "They are a huge company. They have the manpower. They lost a $16 million job, so they're really hungry to get this one to fill up their workload. I feel good about that."

Among the proposed projects are adding air conditioning for 80 classrooms at the school's South Campus, meaning 60 percent of the building would be air-conditioned, Wright said.

Last August, the school endured hot days, with officials acknowledging that high temperatures and humidity created difficult learning environments in non-air conditioned areas.

The projects also include the replacement of air handling units at the Vaughan Fieldhouse, which means the addition of air conditioning. The old units go back to the 1960s, with officials saying their replacement is essential.

"If you intend to move forward with the Vaughan building, they intend to set those units with a helicopter," Wright said. "That's not something you see every day. That's just to give you an idea of the complexity of the project."

Board members said they wanted to be alerted when the helicopter shows up, saying they would be interested in watching.

Half of the money for the projects is expected to come from outside grants.

The board is set to vote on the bids at its meeting Tuesday.