The modern facilities will be the first new schools for the district since 2011

Nicholas & Associates, a construction management firm providing design/build and general contracting services for projects in the recreation, education, municipal and mixed-use sectors, held dual groundbreaking ceremonies on Thursday, Sept. 12 to mark the start of construction of two new junior high schools in Joliet, Ill.

These will be the first new schools since 2011 for Joliet Public Schools District 86, which currently enrolls 9,363 students.

Serving the east and west sides of Joliet, the new junior high schools will be built next to their respective old structures, which will be demolished after the modern facilities open in August 2026, with the land repurposed for additional parking and athletic fields.

Funded by a $99.5 million bond decisively approved by a 2023 voter referendum to replace Hufford and Gompers junior high schools, which are both over 66 years old, the new schools promise a host of benefits for both staff and students, including larger classrooms and hallways, upgraded technology, improved ADA access, better safety and security, enhanced energy efficiency and more. Together, the two new schools will serve approximately 1,800 students.

“Beautifully designed and constructed with today’s learning environment in mind, these state-of-the-art facilities will enhance the lives of the students and families of Joliet for generations to come,” said Joe Papanicholas, vice president of Nicholas & Associates.

The new junior high schools are the latest in a long line of school projects by Nicholas & Associates, which has built more than 20 ground-up educational facilities and completed hundreds of school renovations over the past 45 years.

About Nicholas & Associates:

Founded in 1978, Nicholas & Associates is a comprehensive construction management firm providing design/build and general contracting services for projects in the recreation, education, municipal, and mixed-use sectors. The family-run firm transforms visions to built environments with a personal approach, making it “distinctly different and deliberately personal.” Nicholas & Associates has offices in the Chicagoland area and Milwaukee with a growing national portfolio of projects. To learn more, visit nicholasquality.com.