The construction going on at JTHS will not only have improved accessibility throughout the Smith and T and I buildings, but it’ll also create a new collaboration/gathering area for Steelmen! Monday January 6th, 2025 was when phase one of the construction journey was complete. Over the summer the new culinary arts room was being built, this was the beginning of phase one. After phase one was complete, phase two was upcoming after graduation and we’re currently in phase two. Mr. Locke did say they are anticipating the same this upcoming summer. The Lead Construction Manager; Carrie Delrose, Mr. Locke, The Architectural Team, and the Trade Contractors all work together and take into account when planning each phase of the work by reviewing existing conditions before construction starts, and doing pre-task investigations. The goal is to provide input on potential issues or concerns, especially before blueprint sketches are issued.
Currently, we are in phase two which is the Smith Annex bridge coming down. They’re currently building a multi-level bridge with classrooms off of it that’ll go where the old bridge was, connecting it to the new health and main office building which will be where the current 700’s are. All of the 500’s in the T and I will get renovated and more up to date. Where the main office currently is will become classrooms, but this is between 18-36, possibly even 24 months of this happening. Mr. Locke stated the bridge will hopefully be open by January 2027. Not only will Central get a multi-second level bridge, but they’re also giving the Steelmen Statue a new home! Mrs. Delrose stated her hopes for the relocation area of the statue, “My hope is that this new featured location will help the JTHS community continue to celebrate and appreciate the history of what the Steelmen represents. The Steelmen pushing mankind towards the future is truly a representation of what your high school time can be. He is more than a mascot to Joliet Central; he is symbolic of what can be achieved through education. And I’m proud he will have a new area to showcase this for many Steelmen to come.”
Generally, we know that construction is hard and can take a toll on you mentally and physically. Especially managing a project can really test your stress with the long hours, extreme temperatures, and dangerous tasks that’s all a part of working on a construction project. What helps is planning and preparing to help minimize the physical risk associated with their job. Construction management can also be a mentally challenging task. There’s pressure on Mrs. Delrose to keep work on schedule and within budget, while maintaining a safe and united working environment can be difficult. A project such as this one can have many complex parts and pieces that move quickly. You adapt to being flexible, confident, persistent, experienced and rely on your training as well as your team. A few kind words from our lead construction manager, Mrs. Delrose. “For me, the satisfaction of a successful project is what carries me through the more challenging aspects of the process.” Phase 3 and 4 will focus more on renovating the 600’s to become more modern and updated with equipment for classes within that area. The 800’s will be revised to become more contemporized, but will still be classrooms in the Smith building. This’ll all be done hopefully between late 2027 to early 2028.
Taking all factors into consideration, some expectations we have from the result of the construction is obviously a more modernized space that we as students and staff can be proud of, utilizing the space appropriately and affectively, easier accessibility to the main office for safety and security reasons, and more training on security or more security personnel to ensure students don’t leave. Later down in the construction journey, phases 5,6, and 7 will have major renovations in the counselors office and the AVAC program and some of the rooms down in the first floor area that stay down there, such as a potential new weight room and fitness center on the farther North end by the field house. Once those classrooms open up they’ll turn them into a more modernized classroom for those students. Since we are talking about doing one project at a time this will be 3-4 years away to be a work in making.
Ultimately, we now know what to expect with the construction that is happening at JTHS, Mr. Locke and Mrs. Delrose are aware of the inconvenience the construction can be especially with being tardy and the concerns students have with that. He stated they updated the tardy bell to go off 12 after if you’re in the T and I or Smith building, and actual bell to ring 22 after in those buildings to give a bit of a grace period due to the challenges students and staff face this year and probably the next year until everything falls in place. The main goal that the team members in this project want us to understand is that they’re here to create a new space while making the overall process a positive experience at the end for students and staff here at JTHS.