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Chicago's Northside College Preparatory High School

The day begins just as every other day begins. The engineering staff arrives to open the building, turn the lights on and prepare for the abundance of activities that will begin to take place shortly. Within minutes students begin to arrive, ready to pursue their course of study at the first new public high school built in Chicago in over 20 years, Northside College Preparatory High School.

Presented with a challenge from the beginning, architects O'Donnell, Wicklund, Pigozzi and Peterson needed to develop plans that coincided with the 850 feet of linear space allowed for the building of the school. Bordered on the west by Kedzie Avenue and on the east by the Chicago River, a three-story building occupying a total of 210,000 square feet was erected incorporating several different construction materials including block, glazed block and wood. Large, expansive window designs were used to create a tie-in with the outdoors. If you look closely you will notice that angle cuts in the terrazzo floors, in the outside concrete and throughout the building predominate the décor chosen by the architects. In fact, the school itself has been built on a 17-degree angle.

Construction began in 1997. The intent was to complete the academic portions of the school to allow classes to begin while work was being finished on the pool and auditorium areas. Thirty-one classrooms house a student body of approximately 480 to date.

A total of five science labs, each with a minimum of six computers, offer unlimited opportunities to the students in the science studies. With safety being a number one priority to the staff and administration, each room is equipped with an eye wash and shower station in the event of an emergency. A gas hook-up is located in each room with an emergency shutoff switch located behind the teacher's desk. Recycling is important and each room contains two bins marked with the appropriate contents label.

Enter the library and immediately you get the impression that you have entered a college campus library. Large, open areas situated on two levels enable students to learn in the quiet environment conducive to good study habits. Floor-to-ceiling windows keep in line the outdoor tie created by the architects. On a crisp, clear day the City of Chicago can be seen from the upper level reminding students that they are here preparing themselves for the future. Tables set about in a relaxed atmosphere foster the social skills just as important to students as the "three R's" of education. Round metal halide lights hang from the ceiling, lending themselves to the openness of the floor space.

Electricity provided by ComEd through service lines entering the school has been dedicated to several different systems via a main switching room. One of these systems is the HVAC equipment.

All HVAC equipment is operated through one dedicated line. Thirteen air handling units maintain the air quality of the building.

Constantly re-circulating the air, return fans are used to either exhaust the air to the outside or bring the air back in to be re-used. Classroom walls were constructed to go into the ceiling area. This makes it possible for each room to have its own duct return fan. It is important that this equipment be maintained for maximum operating efficiency. That's the job of Chief Engineer Mick Brady, Assistant Chief Gerard McGuane and their staff. All of the HVAC equipment is inspected on a regular basis and kept running according to manufacturer's recommendations. Monthly PDM ensures the equipment is meeting expectations.

Energy efficiency is a primary concern of the school. A building automation system, installed by Building Automation Systems Company, helps in keeping energy usage at efficient levels. Although not fully completed yet, it won't be long and every function of the building will be controllable from computers in Mick's office. Lighting for the building will be monitored by one of the computers. Via a relay switching panel located in the main switching room, a 110-volt service line is stepped down to 24 volts to provide low voltage lighting throughout. While teachers have the ability to turn lights on or off in their rooms, lights can also be programmed to function automatically. All common area lights are turned on by 6 a.m. Another computer controls the building automation system. Each classroom has its own VAV box so that room temperatures can be maintained. While an ideal temperature of 70º to 74º is desirable, this can be changed to accommodate individual needs.

With so many rooms and so many people moving about, air comfort is a big concern. Two 370-ton Trane" air cooled chillers with primary/secondary chilled water loops located on the rooftop assist in keeping the rooms at a constant level. To provide efficiency as well, Trane" Variable Frequency Drive air handlers were also installed. Once the need for air begins to diminish the boxes will begin to close down. As the boxes close the unit then begins to cycle down. Thus, the equipment does not operate 100% of the time resulting in a big savings to the school. Five chilled water pumps and two domestic hot water pumps supply the school. The kitchen is the only area that is on a separate chilled water system. The school uses a hot water reheat system, which operates on a variable frequency drive also. Rounding out the HVAC equipment are two Bryan boilers at 13,000 BTU each.

In the event of electrical failure, a 250 kV Spectrum Detroit Diesel emergency generator is standing by ready to take the load. It will power computer outlets and emergency lighting until the power can be restored. A fire panel located in the reception area just inside the main doors will direct fire department personnel where to locate a potential fire should the alarm sound. The fire pumps are connected directly to the city fire department ensuring a fast response time. A fully automated security system is in place in the school. Each room as well as hallway areas have motion detectors and sensors on the doors. In order that separate areas of the campus can be used during off school hours each building has its own alarm. A Simplex Integrated Communications System monitors these systems.

The old adage that art is a form of self-expression is evident in the student's self-portraits lining the hallways. Art projects in many different types of media are displayed in cases and lobby areas. Dimmable lights monitored by the building lighting system spotlight the imaginations of the students within. The Art Department has installed a kiln for firing their own ceramic art pieces. A large exhaust fan located within the kiln room removes the heat from the air. It is then exhausted out of the building.

Continuing through the school we reached perhaps the most impressive room there, the auditorium. Seating approximately 525, the auditorium plays host to school activities as well as community events. And it is fully prepared with state-of-the-art equipment to handle any production thrown its way. Entering the auditorium floor gives you the feeling that you have entered the Academy Awards. Wood panels line the walls with dimmable lights from floor to ceiling. A Sensor Dimmer Rack controls all 270 dimmable circuits located in the auditorium. A movable control panel allows lighting to be monitored from on stage as well as from the mid-back row of seats in the auditorium. The seats in this area can be removed to provide more room for events, more room for production equipment or for handicapped seating if necessary. A full-sized band shell, which actually folds together for storage is located behind the stage area. This can easily be rolled out and set up to enable the band's use of the auditorium. Also located out of sight is a fully functional orchestra pit. Front floor panels of the stage area have been made removable to provide for musical instrumentation needed for stage productions. The control room located at the back of the auditorium gives students the opportunity to acquire hands-on experience in theatrical productions. From here they control the lighting of the stage area, lighting located in the catwalks far above the seating area and spotlights on stage. Should extra power be required for a particular event a dedicated 200-amp switch is available for the stage area only. The students participating in theatrical studies are given full responsibility for their productions. A separate area of the stage is used to construct scene backgrounds. All sets are mounted on dumb waiters as a means of raising and lowering them as needed. Students are responsible for learning the weighting system to allow these sets to move flawlessly. As a means of prevention Chief Engineer Mick will make sure that each piece of equipment is in working order but it remains the student's responsibility to learn how to operate it properly.

Equally impressive is the Natatorium. Pardon Me? Natatorium - another word for pool. One of the last phases of the building, construction began in October 1999 and was completed in February 2000. The pool area is a major responsibility for the engineering department. Required by the Chicago Public School system, Mick had to attend state classes in the operation and maintenance of pools. This earned him a Certificate of Operation from the State of Illinois.

Approximately 200,000 gallons of water encompass this 85-foot by 45-foot pool. Ranging from three feet at the shallow end to twelve feet in the deep end, the pool is used for physical education classes as well as competitive swimming events. It is hoped that in the near future the pool can be opened to the general public for use as well.

Mick tests chemical levels in the water on a daily basis. Chemical parameters for the pool are preset. When a variance in chemical levels is detected, automatic pumps release the amount of chemicals needed to maintain a correct pH level and chlorine level. To be sure the controller is reading properly water samples are taken twice a day from both the shallow and deep ends of the pool.

Within an eight-hour period all of the water in the pool is circulated through a sand filter similar to those used by residential pools. Debris is removed from the water and the water is then chemically treated and returned to the pool. Three GE 300-line control boxes are located in the pool filter room. One unit controls the filter pump; one unit controls the air pump used to back flush the filter by loosening debris and bringing it to the top of the filter and the third unit pumps the water to the air handling unit.

Water temperature in the pool is kept at about 80º. To do this as efficiently as possible Dectron dehumidifiers remove unnecessary heat from the air in the pool area. Instead of exhausting the air to the outside of the building it is re-routed to an air handler, which in turn heats the water and then returns it to the pool. A Teledyne Laars heater is also used to maintain this temperature setting.

The most daunting task of all was vacuuming the pool daily. As any pool owner will tell you, this is probably the most unloved job of all. For this particular pool, this task was an all day job, every day. Enter the Ultra Max. This automatic cleaner is set in the pool and left to accomplish its task. It will cover the entire pool, walls and bottom included and remove any dirt or debris in the water. This leaves Mick and Gerard free to complete any other work needing to be done.

Sodexho Marriot Services provides food services for the student body. In a fully supplied kitchen all food is cooked on the premises. Hot as well as cold lunches meeting all nutritional requirements are served on a daily basis. Sodexho is also available to cater awards nights or any other meetings held in the school requiring their services.

Last but not least is the weight room. Top of the line equipment, installed by Hammer Strength Equipment of Ohio line the walls. A trained supervisor or staff member is on hand at all times to supervise the correct use of the equipment. Presently the room is used for sports teams, PE classes and the student body. As with the pool and auditorium, the weight room will eventually be open to the public.

The outside grounds on the school property are the last to be completed. Seeding of the lawn areas has been done and landscaping is close to being completed. A river walk located along the Chicago River is in the planning stages, providing beautiful scenery and peaceful surroundings to the students as well as the public. Athletic fields will be provided for the school teams, known as the Mustangs, to practice and play on.

While Northside College Preparatory High School is part of the Chicago Public School system, entrance into this magnate school is offered to only those meeting the criteria. To become eligible the student must first of all be in the 96 percentile or above of his or her graduating class. They must then pass the entrance exam for admission. To date Northside is the first magnate high school to be completed. Currently under construction, Walter Payton High, located at Division and Wells, will become the next. The school district's plans are to eventually open a school of this caliber in each of the six school regions located throughout the Chicago public school system.

So whom are the people working so hard to keep Northside on the top of the list? According to Mick Brady, the principal, Dr. James Lalley, PhD is in large part responsible for the success of this school. Together with Assistant Principal Alan Mather, they have developed a mutual respect between themselves and the students.

The smooth operation of the school is credited to the engineering staff. Mick Brady, employed by Hill Environmental Operations has been in the business for approximately 10 years. After completing school at Triton College, and taking numerous classes through Local 399, Mick served his apprenticeship at 311 Wacker. From there he moved to 350 N. LaSalle before eventually becoming chief at Northside Prep. The best part of his job, according to Mick, is being around the kids. Mick is married and has a daughter. His hobbies include sports of all kinds.

Assistant Chief Gerard McGuane is a relative newcomer to the field. Starting out at Old Orchard Shopping Center, Gerard has been at the school since the first of this year. He continues with his education by taking classes offered through Local 399.

The future of our children is a bright one. This is evident by taking a good look at what is offered at Northside College Preparatory High School. And while a good majority of us look back and say, "I wish I had," let's hope that these students take advantage of all that is ofered to them and say, "I know I can".

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