Lakes Community High School

EEA was retained to consult with Community High School District 117 and to advise OWP/P Architects (now Cannon Design) during the due diligence, master planning, and annexation process for a vacant site in preparation for the construction of a new 1,500-student high school.

The Master Plan for the 110-acre site included a total of 34 athletic facilities, including separate football and soccer stadiums, multiple baseball, softball, lacrosse, field hockey and soccer fields, 12 tennis courts, and running track with field events and a sand volleyball court. Many of these facilities overlapped to provide maximum flexibility during any one particular sport season.

Additionally, EEA worked with the Lake County Division of Transportation (LCDOT) to secure two access points onto two different county roads, as well develop as a signalized intersection for the high school to improve traffic flow and accessibility.

OWP/P subsequently retained EEA to provide design and construction documents for all the on-site improvements, which addressed stormwater management, grading, water distribution, wastewater collection, parking, access, and wetland mitigation issues. Multiple bid packages were prepared to address the complex environmental permitting procedures and aggressive timeline.

The campus was occupied on time and under budget in August of 2004, with the construction value of civil engineering improvements in excess of $7 million, while total project values exceeded $50 million.