Link to Pictures
The voters of both Paris Unit School District No. 95 and Paris Community Unit School District 4 passed referendums on April 4, 2011 authorizing the two districts to sell $6 million in bonds each ($12 million total) to support the construction of a new high school in Paris. The measure passed with a 66.2% margin in Unit 4 and a 62.4% margin in District 95. The proceeds of the bond sale will be combined with a $24,227,956 state grant from the Illinois Capital Development Board and $3,500,000 from the Lippman-Huston Trust. The proceeds for the building project is $39,727,956.
Facts and Figures
High School - 131,000 square feet
Theatre - 28,000 square feet, 500 seats
Site - approximately 65.616 acres
Parking - 364 cars in the base bid. An additional 244 spaces could be added if alternate bids are accepted.
Schedule
Phase I Tree Removal, Excavation & Utilities - October 15, 2012 - December 7, 2012
Phase II - Building & Site Construction - March 1, 2013 - June 1, 2014
School Opens - August 2014
Bid Group 1
Tree Removal - received September 4, 2012. Bid was awarded to Lilly Timber Services of Mode, IL. on September 10, 2012. Contract amount is $37,300. Bi
Bid Group 2
Excavation & Site Utilities - received October 3, 2012. Bid was awarded to Feutz Contractors, Inc. of Paris, IL. on October 10, 2012 Contract amount is $2,045,850.
Bid Group Three | Received February 7, 2013
Bid Group 5
Bid Tabulation Sheets
Bid Advertisements
Questions & Answers
September 15, 2012. Why doesn't the new school have a more steeply sloped roofline? Wouldn't a metal roof be a good idea?
Metal roofing is a good product, but is a very expensive option. The building floor area is over 130,000 sf,
and a sloped roof generates even more roof area. A sloped metal roof design would add between $1.5 to $2.0 million dollars to the building's cost. The architect's design concept is gently sloped with a drainage system rather than pitched, like the roof on a house. Membrane roofing products currently being used on commercial-style buildings like schools are cost effective, provide good warranties and are very good at keeping the weather out.
September 15, 2012. The proposed site was used to pump out the dredged material from Twin Lakes. Will the silt from the lake provide the support that is needed for the new building? Are there any chemical concentrations on the site that need remediation?
The new high school building will be built on "engineered fill" - the silt material will be removed in that location and a building pad will be constructed with compacted clay material taken from the berms that currently surround the site. This material has a bearing capacity of 3000 pounds per square inch - the high school will likely be built on a stronger foundation than many of the buildings in the area. Both a phase I (completed November 30, 2010) and a phase II (completed January 25, 2011) environmental site assessment have been completed. The report from American Environmental corporation states that there are no detectable concentrations of any material that exceed applicable soil remediation standards. No further investigations are recommended by the American Environmental Corporation (both phase I and phase II reports are available for inspection).
September 15, 2012. Why didn't the School District buy a site?
This option was studied during the pre-construction/estimating phase. The building site was given to the two districts by the City of Paris. Although the cost of moving the silt to get this site ready has a cost, that cost is not more that the cost of a different piece of ground that is similar in size. The value of the property given to the districts by the city will keep the cost of the project down.
September 15, 2012. I understand that the Soils Report indicates groundwater at 12 feet below the ground. Does this mean we will have water problems in our new school?
Eleven of the twenty three borings taken in the new school footprint reflected groundwater near Elevation 670. The proposed finished floor elevation of the school is Elevation 682.5 - some 12.5 feet above the groundwater level. The orchestra pit will be approximately 8 feet below grade, and it will be waterproofed as a precaution. The balance of the building will be constructed well above the indicated groundwater levels. Water drainage for the site is very good and there should be no water issues for the new building.
September 15, 2012. Does the Project include the construction of all new athletic fields - football stadium, baseball field, softball field, and tennis courts?
The master site plan includes all of the athletic facilities including football stadium, eight lane track, baseball and softball fields as well as tennis courts. It is possible, with favorable bids, that all of the athletic fields will be completed with the project.
September 15, 2012. Where would a Greenhouse be located, if it were added to the Project?
There is room for a new greenhouse on the east side of the building near the new Ag shop.
September 22, 2012. Why weren't neighboring school districts contacted for their input?
Other school districts have been contacted. Originally, six school districts participated in the feasibility study to from the cooperative high school. Since the two Paris districts formed the cooperative, regular updates have been shared with the neighboring districts. A presentation about the cooperative high school was made to the Edgar County Community Unit #6 (Chrisman) in a public meeting. Each district has many issues to contemplate and we can only provide information and answer questions about possibility of expanding the cooperative school.
September 22, 2012. The final cost is unknown but will be higher than these figures (it always is). Will the project be scaled back or will more bonds be sold?
There is a fixed budget for the project. The two districts have to stay within that budget. The voters authorized each district to sell $6 million in bonds.
September 22, 2012. Has anyone talked to the railroad about upgrading that crossing since it is too dangerous now at the present grade?
The railroad crossing on the west side of the property will be an issue. There have been some preliminary inquiries about the crossing. More work needs to be done to make sure that crossing is safe for the heavier traffic the road will have due to the new school.
September 27, 2012. I have heard of rooms being named (with donations) after dignified educators that have worked at PCHS in the past. This seems like a neat idea and would be a great way to help furnish the needs of our future students. Is there any truth to this?
Anyone interested in sponsoring the furnishing of a room may contact Warren Sperry with the Edgar County Foundation. Rooms can be dedicated to individuals and families. Click here for a informational brochure.
October 1, 2012. Is it going to be called Paris High School or Paris Cooperative High School? Also, what is the mascot and school colors?
The school's colors are black and orange. The school's mascot is the tiger. The school is Paris High School. It is cooperatively governed by Unit 4 and District 95.
October 2, 2012. What kind of material testing is required and who will be doing the material testing?
Our specifications will require submittals, samples, certifications, and warranties of almost every building material and system to ensure quality.
The district will hire a company specializing in material testing and inspections for the following items:
October 2, 2012. Who will be doing the layout for construction?
Layout will not be done by the Architect or the CM. Each contractor is responsible for the layout of their own work. The site and foundation contractors often hire surveyors to do the layout for them. This means a contractor will likely hire an independent firm to do the layout for their work.
October 2, 2012. Why was asphalt chosen for the roads instead of concrete?
Asphalt paving can currently be installed at a lower cost than concrete paving so we have specified asphalt. Asphalt pricing can be volatile. It went up somewhat between the SD and DD estimate.
October 12, 2012. Will Route 1 be widened to allow for a turning lane? Has the State looked into putting a light at the intersection?
Both of those questions have been looked into. We have not had a definitive answer given to us, but we will continue to inquire about how those changes can be made.
October 30, 2012. Why were construction management costs at 13%? Thats almost double the cost of a typical job that size.
Construction management costs are just below 6% of total projected construction costs. $2,333,000 of $39,716,190.
November 5, 2012. Is the completion date still on target? Originally, I believe we were told the first senior class to graduate from the new school would be the class of 2015. Is that correct?
Construction is scheduled to be mostly complete by July of 2014. The school is scheduled to open for the beginning of the 2014-15 school year. This year's sophomore class would be the first class to graduate from the new school in May of 2015.
November 8, 2012. What type of asphalt mixtures have been specified for the roads and parking areas at the site? What thickness, density and material related specifications apply?
The bituminous pavement mix for the binder course is specified as “Hot Mix Asphalt Binder Course Super IL-9.5, N50. PG Binder Grade shall be PG 64-22”. The bituminous pavement mix for the surface course is specified as “Hot Mix Asphalt Surface Course Super IL-9.5, N50, Mix C. PG Binder Grade shall be PG 64-22”. The standard duty pavement section is specified as 1-1/2” surface course, 1-1/2” binder course, 8” compacted CA-6 base course (placed in layers not exceeding 4”, compacted to 95% standard proctor density), compacted sub-grade (95% maximum dry density). The heavy duty pavement section is specified as 1-1/2” surface course, 3-1/2” binder course, 12” compacted CA-6 base course (placed in layers not exceeding 4”, compacted to 95% standard proctor density), compacted sub-grade (95% maximum dry density). The final design locations / areas of standard duty versus heavy duty paving are currently being finalized. At this time, the design calls for heavy duty pavement on the main entrance road / circle, and the receiving / shop / maintenance entry areas.
November 8, 2012. What type of concrete specifications are included in the project regarding Alkali Silica Reactivity and Freeze Thaw durable aggregates? These are two of the most important parameters to ensure long term durability of the concrete mixtures. If these parameters have not been addressed in the specifications they need to be.
The concrete specifications are currently being developed / finalized, and the items you have referenced, Alkali Silica Reactivity and Freeze Thaw durable aggregates, while not specifically identified in the current specification draft, will be reviewed and included per your suggestion. Thank you.
November 19, 2012. How many basketball courts will there be? Will there be enough for both boys & girls to practice?
The gym will have three full size courts. Two of the courts will be covered by the bleachers when they are fully deployed. The coaches have created a practice schedule where all of the teams can practice after school.
December 4th, 2012. What will happen to the old high school and Eveland gym?
That is a question that has not been answered at this time.
December 5th, 2012. Since you require a name and email address to ask a question, and some people do not feel comfortable revealing their names in order to ask a question, I guess I will ask it for them. Where can I find the invoices submitted and invoices paid? I can see bank account transfers in the District's minutes, but no notes on what it was for, other than "architect's fees." Could the invoices and payments be uploaded for viewing? Thanks, John
Directions about how to post anonymously have been included on the question form of the website. Bills and invoices have been posted under a new page that is referenced on the toolbar menu.
January 9, 2012. Will the new building be a complete closed campus? As in, will upperclassmen be able to co-op or leave for S.O.S.?
The plan is to close the campus for all grade levels. Students will be required to remain on campus for lunch. Currently, some classes do require students to leave campus. Cooperative education, health occupations, and child daycare (as examples), require PHS students to leave campus. Students in those classes will still be able to leave campus to fulfill the requirements. Students Offering Services (SOS) is restricted to campus only activities at this time.
January 15, 2012. With the construction of a newer larger facility will there be a need to hire additional maintenance personnel?
Using the square footage of the new building as a factor, planning suggests that 1 1/2 maintenance personnel will be needed for the new building. Whether that will be the case or not is yet to be seen. The current high school has one full time employee dedicated to its maintenance. The new building should have fewer maintenance issues at the outset than any of the current buildings in use. The systems will be different (geothermal), and will require training/retraining. As the two districts study consolidation one of the issues will be maintenance needs and distribution of current staff.
January 18, 2012. When is the actual bid date for the concrete portion of the building with the reinforcing in it? Where will the bid openings be and what time?
The concrete bid package, including all reinforcing, was put out-to-bid on January 17, 2013. Bids will be received, publicly opened and read at 2:00 PM on February 7, 2013 at the Paris Union School District 95 offices located at 300 South Eads Avenue, Paris, Illinois 61944.
High School - 131,000 square feet
Theatre - 28,000 square feet, 500 seats
Site - approximately 65.616 acres
Parking - 364 cars in the base bid. An additional 244 spaces could be added if alternate bids are accepted.
Schedule
Phase I Tree Removal, Excavation & Utilities - October 15, 2012 - December 7, 2012
Phase II - Building & Site Construction - March 1, 2013 - June 1, 2014
School Opens - August 2014
Bid Group 1
Tree Removal - received September 4, 2012. Bid was awarded to Lilly Timber Services of Mode, IL. on September 10, 2012. Contract amount is $37,300. Bi
Bid Group 2
Excavation & Site Utilities - received October 3, 2012. Bid was awarded to Feutz Contractors, Inc. of Paris, IL. on October 10, 2012 Contract amount is $2,045,850.
Bid Group Three | Received February 7, 2013
- Bid Package 04 Site Paving pending
- Bid Package 05 Cast-In-Place Concrete Bid rejected 3/11/2013 added to general trades package.
- Bid Package 06 Precast Concrete Bid rejected 3/11/2013 to be rebid at a future date.
- Bid Package 07 Structural Steel & Misc. Metals pending
- Bid Package 08 Exterior Grandstands & Pressbox pending
- Bid Package 09 Masonry pending
- Bid Package 11 Roofing & Metal Wall Panels pending
- Bid Package 20 Food Service Equipment pending
- Bid Package 21 Fire Protection pending
- Bid Package 22 Plumbing pending
- Bid Package 23 HVAC pending
- Bid Package 10 Millwork / Casework pending
- Bid Package 12 General Trades pending
- Bid Package 13 Curtainwall, Glass & Glazing pending
- Bid Package 14 Drywall, Metal Studs, ACT & Wall Panels pending
- Bid Package 15 Wood Flooring pending
- Bid Package 16 Resilient Flooring & Carpet pending
- Bid Package 17 Terrazzo Flooring pending
- Bid Package 18 Painting & Wallcoverings pending
- Bid Package 19 Theater & Stage Equipment pending
Bid Group 5
- Bid Package 24 Electrical Systems pending
Bid Tabulation Sheets
Bid Advertisements
Questions & Answers
September 15, 2012. Why doesn't the new school have a more steeply sloped roofline? Wouldn't a metal roof be a good idea?
Metal roofing is a good product, but is a very expensive option. The building floor area is over 130,000 sf,
and a sloped roof generates even more roof area. A sloped metal roof design would add between $1.5 to $2.0 million dollars to the building's cost. The architect's design concept is gently sloped with a drainage system rather than pitched, like the roof on a house. Membrane roofing products currently being used on commercial-style buildings like schools are cost effective, provide good warranties and are very good at keeping the weather out.
September 15, 2012. The proposed site was used to pump out the dredged material from Twin Lakes. Will the silt from the lake provide the support that is needed for the new building? Are there any chemical concentrations on the site that need remediation?
The new high school building will be built on "engineered fill" - the silt material will be removed in that location and a building pad will be constructed with compacted clay material taken from the berms that currently surround the site. This material has a bearing capacity of 3000 pounds per square inch - the high school will likely be built on a stronger foundation than many of the buildings in the area. Both a phase I (completed November 30, 2010) and a phase II (completed January 25, 2011) environmental site assessment have been completed. The report from American Environmental corporation states that there are no detectable concentrations of any material that exceed applicable soil remediation standards. No further investigations are recommended by the American Environmental Corporation (both phase I and phase II reports are available for inspection).
September 15, 2012. Why didn't the School District buy a site?
This option was studied during the pre-construction/estimating phase. The building site was given to the two districts by the City of Paris. Although the cost of moving the silt to get this site ready has a cost, that cost is not more that the cost of a different piece of ground that is similar in size. The value of the property given to the districts by the city will keep the cost of the project down.
September 15, 2012. I understand that the Soils Report indicates groundwater at 12 feet below the ground. Does this mean we will have water problems in our new school?
Eleven of the twenty three borings taken in the new school footprint reflected groundwater near Elevation 670. The proposed finished floor elevation of the school is Elevation 682.5 - some 12.5 feet above the groundwater level. The orchestra pit will be approximately 8 feet below grade, and it will be waterproofed as a precaution. The balance of the building will be constructed well above the indicated groundwater levels. Water drainage for the site is very good and there should be no water issues for the new building.
September 15, 2012. Does the Project include the construction of all new athletic fields - football stadium, baseball field, softball field, and tennis courts?
The master site plan includes all of the athletic facilities including football stadium, eight lane track, baseball and softball fields as well as tennis courts. It is possible, with favorable bids, that all of the athletic fields will be completed with the project.
September 15, 2012. Where would a Greenhouse be located, if it were added to the Project?
There is room for a new greenhouse on the east side of the building near the new Ag shop.
September 22, 2012. Why weren't neighboring school districts contacted for their input?
Other school districts have been contacted. Originally, six school districts participated in the feasibility study to from the cooperative high school. Since the two Paris districts formed the cooperative, regular updates have been shared with the neighboring districts. A presentation about the cooperative high school was made to the Edgar County Community Unit #6 (Chrisman) in a public meeting. Each district has many issues to contemplate and we can only provide information and answer questions about possibility of expanding the cooperative school.
September 22, 2012. The final cost is unknown but will be higher than these figures (it always is). Will the project be scaled back or will more bonds be sold?
There is a fixed budget for the project. The two districts have to stay within that budget. The voters authorized each district to sell $6 million in bonds.
September 22, 2012. Has anyone talked to the railroad about upgrading that crossing since it is too dangerous now at the present grade?
The railroad crossing on the west side of the property will be an issue. There have been some preliminary inquiries about the crossing. More work needs to be done to make sure that crossing is safe for the heavier traffic the road will have due to the new school.
September 27, 2012. I have heard of rooms being named (with donations) after dignified educators that have worked at PCHS in the past. This seems like a neat idea and would be a great way to help furnish the needs of our future students. Is there any truth to this?
Anyone interested in sponsoring the furnishing of a room may contact Warren Sperry with the Edgar County Foundation. Rooms can be dedicated to individuals and families. Click here for a informational brochure.
October 1, 2012. Is it going to be called Paris High School or Paris Cooperative High School? Also, what is the mascot and school colors?
The school's colors are black and orange. The school's mascot is the tiger. The school is Paris High School. It is cooperatively governed by Unit 4 and District 95.
October 2, 2012. What kind of material testing is required and who will be doing the material testing?
Our specifications will require submittals, samples, certifications, and warranties of almost every building material and system to ensure quality.
The district will hire a company specializing in material testing and inspections for the following items:
- Soil Compaction Testing for structural fill below building and pavement areas. (This is probably the most critical testing. Testing is based on Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) standards. This ensures that the soils supporting the building and pavements will settle minimally. Poorly or non-uniformly compacted soils can lead to differential settlement of parts of the building which can result in serious structural problems and cracking. This type of damage is usually very expensive to fix)
- Foundation Excavation Inspections prior to footing pours. (Bottoms of excavations must be inspected to make sure there is no frozen soil or standing water. The inspector also uses a penitrometer to check the soil bearing capacity. This testing is done to prevent differential settlement described in item 1.)
- Concrete Testing for all building and site concrete. (This testing is based the American Concrete Institute (ACI) standards. It ensures the concrete strength meets or exceeds specifications. Low strength concrete can lead to cracking, spauling and structural failure which can be extremely expensive to fix.)
- Inspection of Concrete Reinforcing. (This is a code required inspection done for the same reasons as number 3.)
- Steel Bolt Testing for the building structural steel. (Believe it or not, steel erectors often fail to tighten all the bolts holding your steel beams and columns together after they have plumbed and squared the framing. This testing requires the inspector to spot test the tightness of the bolts to make sure they are getting them all.)
- Asphalt Paving Testing. (This is done primarily to ensure you are getting the proper thickness of asphalt and that it is compacted properly.)
- We did not request masonry testing because we will not have masonry bearing walls.
- We are looking at having the building systems commissioned since we may pursue LEED certification. Commissioning requires the third party agent to do pre-functional testing of mechanical equipment and other systems to ensure your systems are operating properly and efficiently on day one. This is of great value but it costs about $1/SF.
- There are other systems like fire alarm and sprinkler testing for which we will require the contractor to provide performance testing as a part of their cost.
October 2, 2012. Who will be doing the layout for construction?
Layout will not be done by the Architect or the CM. Each contractor is responsible for the layout of their own work. The site and foundation contractors often hire surveyors to do the layout for them. This means a contractor will likely hire an independent firm to do the layout for their work.
October 2, 2012. Why was asphalt chosen for the roads instead of concrete?
Asphalt paving can currently be installed at a lower cost than concrete paving so we have specified asphalt. Asphalt pricing can be volatile. It went up somewhat between the SD and DD estimate.
October 12, 2012. Will Route 1 be widened to allow for a turning lane? Has the State looked into putting a light at the intersection?
Both of those questions have been looked into. We have not had a definitive answer given to us, but we will continue to inquire about how those changes can be made.
October 30, 2012. Why were construction management costs at 13%? Thats almost double the cost of a typical job that size.
Construction management costs are just below 6% of total projected construction costs. $2,333,000 of $39,716,190.
November 5, 2012. Is the completion date still on target? Originally, I believe we were told the first senior class to graduate from the new school would be the class of 2015. Is that correct?
Construction is scheduled to be mostly complete by July of 2014. The school is scheduled to open for the beginning of the 2014-15 school year. This year's sophomore class would be the first class to graduate from the new school in May of 2015.
November 8, 2012. What type of asphalt mixtures have been specified for the roads and parking areas at the site? What thickness, density and material related specifications apply?
The bituminous pavement mix for the binder course is specified as “Hot Mix Asphalt Binder Course Super IL-9.5, N50. PG Binder Grade shall be PG 64-22”. The bituminous pavement mix for the surface course is specified as “Hot Mix Asphalt Surface Course Super IL-9.5, N50, Mix C. PG Binder Grade shall be PG 64-22”. The standard duty pavement section is specified as 1-1/2” surface course, 1-1/2” binder course, 8” compacted CA-6 base course (placed in layers not exceeding 4”, compacted to 95% standard proctor density), compacted sub-grade (95% maximum dry density). The heavy duty pavement section is specified as 1-1/2” surface course, 3-1/2” binder course, 12” compacted CA-6 base course (placed in layers not exceeding 4”, compacted to 95% standard proctor density), compacted sub-grade (95% maximum dry density). The final design locations / areas of standard duty versus heavy duty paving are currently being finalized. At this time, the design calls for heavy duty pavement on the main entrance road / circle, and the receiving / shop / maintenance entry areas.
November 8, 2012. What type of concrete specifications are included in the project regarding Alkali Silica Reactivity and Freeze Thaw durable aggregates? These are two of the most important parameters to ensure long term durability of the concrete mixtures. If these parameters have not been addressed in the specifications they need to be.
The concrete specifications are currently being developed / finalized, and the items you have referenced, Alkali Silica Reactivity and Freeze Thaw durable aggregates, while not specifically identified in the current specification draft, will be reviewed and included per your suggestion. Thank you.
November 19, 2012. How many basketball courts will there be? Will there be enough for both boys & girls to practice?
The gym will have three full size courts. Two of the courts will be covered by the bleachers when they are fully deployed. The coaches have created a practice schedule where all of the teams can practice after school.
December 4th, 2012. What will happen to the old high school and Eveland gym?
That is a question that has not been answered at this time.
December 5th, 2012. Since you require a name and email address to ask a question, and some people do not feel comfortable revealing their names in order to ask a question, I guess I will ask it for them. Where can I find the invoices submitted and invoices paid? I can see bank account transfers in the District's minutes, but no notes on what it was for, other than "architect's fees." Could the invoices and payments be uploaded for viewing? Thanks, John
Directions about how to post anonymously have been included on the question form of the website. Bills and invoices have been posted under a new page that is referenced on the toolbar menu.
January 9, 2012. Will the new building be a complete closed campus? As in, will upperclassmen be able to co-op or leave for S.O.S.?
The plan is to close the campus for all grade levels. Students will be required to remain on campus for lunch. Currently, some classes do require students to leave campus. Cooperative education, health occupations, and child daycare (as examples), require PHS students to leave campus. Students in those classes will still be able to leave campus to fulfill the requirements. Students Offering Services (SOS) is restricted to campus only activities at this time.
January 15, 2012. With the construction of a newer larger facility will there be a need to hire additional maintenance personnel?
Using the square footage of the new building as a factor, planning suggests that 1 1/2 maintenance personnel will be needed for the new building. Whether that will be the case or not is yet to be seen. The current high school has one full time employee dedicated to its maintenance. The new building should have fewer maintenance issues at the outset than any of the current buildings in use. The systems will be different (geothermal), and will require training/retraining. As the two districts study consolidation one of the issues will be maintenance needs and distribution of current staff.
January 18, 2012. When is the actual bid date for the concrete portion of the building with the reinforcing in it? Where will the bid openings be and what time?
The concrete bid package, including all reinforcing, was put out-to-bid on January 17, 2013. Bids will be received, publicly opened and read at 2:00 PM on February 7, 2013 at the Paris Union School District 95 offices located at 300 South Eads Avenue, Paris, Illinois 61944.
