Groundbreaking Signals Start Of Improvements To D161 Facilities

FLOSSMOOR, IL — Flossmoor School District 161 has officially broken ground on a series of facility upgrades aimed at enhancing safety, security and learning environments across the district. On a bright February morning, representatives from Wold Architects & Engineers and Pepper Construction joined Flossmoor School District 161 Board of Education President Dr. Carolyn Griggs, Superintendent Dr. Dana Smith, Associate Superintendent Fran LaBella and Heather Hill Principal Carol Humm, to celebrate the milestone at Heather Hill Elementary School.

Construction officially began on Monday, March 3, marking the start of improvements across the school district that will benefit students and staff for years to come. During the summer of 2025, Heather Hill and Serena Hills Elementary School will be renovated. Heather Hill will undergo the most extensive transformation, including relocating the main office to the front of the school to improve safety and security. Work at both schools will continue through the beginning of August 2025. Updates at Flossmoor Hills Elementary School, Western Avenue Elementary School and Parker Junior High School will follow during the summer of 2026.

Planned upgrades include:

• Fresh paint and updated lighting (All Schools)
• New classroom furniture and flat panel technology (All Schools)
• Restructuring of the current office into classroom and teacher lounge/workroom spaces (Heather Hill)
• An expanded kindergarten classroom (Heather Hill)

“We are grateful to the Board of Education for approving this important investment in our students and staff,” said Superintendent Dr. Dana Smith. “These upgrades will not only modernize our facilities but also create a more inclusive and engaging environment for learning.”

Wold Architects & Engineers, which has partnered with the district since 2017, designed the improvements with a focus on long-term functionality, student-centered learning and enhanced safety measures.

“The addition at Heather Hill and classroom modernization across Flossmoor School District 161 are designed to meet the needs of students and educators today while adapting to existing buildings to be future-ready,” said Mike Eichhorn, Principal at Wold Architects & Engineers. “We’re proud to help bring Flossmoor’s vision to life, creating schools that prioritize safety and support academic success.”

To ensure the safety of students and staff at Heather Hill, changes to arrival and dismissal routines were implemented the week of Feb. 11, before any construction equipment arrived on-site. Families and community members are asked to follow updated traffic safety guidelines to support a smooth transition during construction.

District 161 looks forward to welcoming students back in the fall to refreshed and improved learning spaces that reflect the district’s commitment to excellence.

About Wold Architects & Engineers

Wold Architects and Engineers is a full-service planning, architecture and engineering firm with offices in Illinois, Minnesota, Colorado and Tennessee. As a dynamic, growth-oriented company, Wold is committed to delivering exceptional results for the communities it serves. Wold ranks 9th nationally in the 2024 Building Design + Construction Top 160 K-12 School Architecture Firms. To learn more, please visit woldae.com.