Students in Conrady Junior High School’s Green Architecture classes got a first-hand glimpse of what their futures could look like as they toured the massive 45,000-square-foot addition scheduled to open for the start of the 2024-25 school year.
Green Architecture is one of several Project Lead The Way classes Conrady offers and is based on designing buildings with the lowest possible negative impact on the surrounding environment by using sustainable materials and energy sources in construction.
PLTW is an innovative project-based learning program that incorporates STEM (science, technology, engineering and math classes.) Project Lead The Way empowers students to develop and apply in-demand, transportable skills by exploring real-world challenges in an exciting and engaging way.
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Wearing hardhats and smiles, students spent nearly 30 minutes touring the new addition while asking questions of the architect, construction manager, project engineer and North Palos District 117’s building and grounds director.
“I’d love to be an architect one day,” said T.J. Carey, a Palos Hills’ seventh grader. “I think it would be great to work with a team that builds awesome schools and additions like this. I know it will take a lot of hard work (to become an architect) and I’m willing to do the work.”
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T.J. said he was excited about the new addition opening for the start of school. “This is an amazing school and this addition will only make it better and provide us with more opportunities,” he said. “I can’t wait.”
Crews averaging between 40 and 60 people are working hard to get the project completed. The new lunchroom/cafeteria alone is more than 6,000-square-feet and will be able to serve 400 students at a time. The addition will have taken about 16 months from start to finish.
