Oak Lawn's High Schools Pitch Performing Arts Centers to Planning Commission

OAK LAWN, IL -- Oak Lawn’s two public high schools are pitching projects that both schools say will bolster their’ respective performing arts and music programs before the Oak Lawn Planning and Development Commission this Monday.

Oak Lawn Community High School and H. L. Richards High School are both planning to add performing arts centers to their respective buildings. Both schools are requesting approval for parking, setback and height variations for the proposed building additions.

The projects will be funded through bond sales and working cash reserves. Neither high school plans to seek a referendum to raise tax levies their projects.

Oak Lawn Community High School

Dist. 229 Superintendent Dr. Michael Riordan said the district is currently developing plans for construction of a new performing arts center, which would be located on Oak Lawn Community High School’s main campus at 95th Street and Southwest Highway. Specifically, the new construction would be connected to the southwest corner of the existing building, where the tennis courts sit.

The OLCHS facility is expected to seat between 600 and 650 people, and will be used for the high school’s drama productions and musical performances, as well as student, parent and community meetings and other events. The state-of-the-art primary theater, it will also include a “black box theater,” dressings rooms, storage areas and other amenities.

Riordan said the district is working with STR Partners LLC for architectural services and Henry Brothers Co. for construction management services.

“We anticipate our bidding process to occur in during March and April,” Riordan said. “ Pending [D229] board of education approval of the lowest responsible bid, we would tentatively break ground in the early summer of 2017, with a grand opening planned for the fall of 2018.”

The overall cost of the performing arts center is currently estimated at $15.6 million. The expense covers the construction of the facility, reconstruction of the tennis courts on the north side of the campus, installation of water retention areas and apparatus, the redesign and installation of new driveways and other improvements. This is the first building addition to the main OLCHS building since 1970, although the high school has undergone improvements over the years.

Riordan said the district has already secured funds for the project from a $19.8 million cash bond sale completed in late 2016. Dist. 229 is requesting a parking, height and setback variations from the village’s planning and development commission. The project will not go to voters as a referendum.

OLCHS musical and theatrical productions are currently performed in the high school’s gymnasium, where the audience sits on bleachers. Riordan said the performance arts center will be marked improvement over the gym, and reduce numerous conflicts with physical education classes and sporting events.

“Oak Lawn Community High School has one of the most storied and successful performing arts projects in the state of Illinois,” Riordan said. “Our music, drama, and speech coaches and students have consistently placed at the top among our high school peers at the various state competitions year after year. By providing our students with a beautiful, state of the art facility, I anticipate that the experiences that our performers, as well as our audiences will be greatly enhanced.”

H.L. Richards High School

CHSD Dist. 218 is proposing to build a 38,000-square-foot arts center at H.L. Richards High School at 107th Street and Central Avenue. The proposed addition will extend from the existing building on the east side, leading to the gymnasium out toward the tennis courts. The district is requesting a building height variation from the village.

The arts center is being designed by DLA Architects, Plans call for new instructional spaces for both the choral and instrumental music programs, a new dance studio, and a new 525-seat theater. D218 Superintendent Ty Harting said via email.

DLA Architects' high definition rendering of Richards Performing Arts Center

The cost of the Richards project is estimated between $13.5 to $14.5 million. Funding is coming from the remaining balance from previous bond purchases. The remaining portion is coming from D218’s working cash fund. Harting said the D218 board voted unanimously to start seeking bids for construction.

“Naturally the board plans to make this beautiful facility available for community use,” Harting said.

Should the project get the ultimate nod of approval from the Oak Lawn Village Board, Dist. 218 hopes to break ground at Richards this spring with a projected finish date of Spring 2018.

Both high school districts will be taking their respective projects to the planning and development commission on Monday, Feb. 6. The meeting starts at 7 p.m. at Oak Lawn Village Hall, 9466 S. Raymond Ave.

Should planning commissioners recommend the projects, both plans will go before the village board for a full vote.