New 127,250-square-foot park district facility to accommodate growing community demand

McHugh Construction and joint venture partner Nacional Group, together with officials from the Elmhurst Park District, held a ceremonial groundbreaking on Saturday, Dec. 6, for the new Joanne B. Wagner Community Center. The $84.95 million project will replace the former Wagner Community Center with a modern, 127,250-square-foot, two-story facility at 615 N. West Ave. in Elmhurst, Ill. The event marked the start of demolition, and a grand opening is planned for fall 2027.

The new Wagner Community Center is designed to meet a significant increase in demand from the Elmhurst community for recreation and early childhood programming. According to McHugh, the previous 32,000-square-foot building lacked the space and infrastructure to support current and future needs. The new center will be approximately four times larger than the former facility, enabling expanded programming and the elimination of longstanding waitlists for youth and adult activities.

Designed by the Elmhurst office of Dewberry, the Wagner Community Center will feature an indoor artificial turf field; a full-size gymnasium capable of hosting multiple sports; a three-lane elevated walking track; dedicated early childhood and preschool classrooms with a separate, secure entrance; expanded dance and gymnastics studios; an indoor play area; multipurpose community rooms; and administrative offices.

“We are excited to break ground on the new Joanne B. Wagner Community Center, a project that will serve Elmhurst residents of all ages,” said Jim Rogers, executive director of the Elmhurst Park District. “The Park District has had the privilege of working with McHugh Construction on a number of previous projects, and their proven track record of delivering quality community facilities gives us confidence in entrusting them with this historic project, too. This partnership ensures our community will have a state-of-the-art center that meets the growing needs of families, youth and adults for years to come.”

McHugh Construction has a long history of building civic and community structures in Elmhurst, including acting as construction manager for the $75 million renovation of York Community High School in 2000; various improvements to several elementary and middle schools; and construction of East End Pool, Fire Station 2 and both the Mansion and Conservatory in Wilder Park.

“Having delivered numerous public and community facilities throughout Elmhurst, we understand how important this center is to residents,” said Andrew Totten, vice president, sports, entertainment & special use, McHugh Construction. “We’re honored to partner with Nacional Group to help bring to life a building that will serve current and future generations of families, athletes and learners.”

Mike Meagher, president of Nacional Group enjoyed working with McHugh for over 30 years, before he took his current position leading Nacional. “My personal project history in Elmhurst is the same as McHugh’s,” he said. “Teaming together to deliver another successful project to the Elmhurst community seemed like a natural thing to do and in the best interest of the center.”

Unique design elements for the new center include a mass timber ceiling that begins at the exterior canopy and continues through the building’s interior, as well as a façade that mixes masonry, metal panels, a glass curtainwall and precast concrete. The main entrance will be located off Crockett Avenue and will lead visitors directly to a central reception area, with the gymnasium immediately to the right and the gymnastics spaces positioned behind the reception desk. The second floor will house the elevated walking track overlooking the gym, along with the dance studios and administrative offices. To the south of the building, a secure early childhood entrance will serve the preschool wing, while exterior improvements include new parking areas and two synthetic turf play fields.

About McHugh Construction:

Specializing in multifamily residential, hospitality, and recreational facilities, McHugh Construction is a fourth generation, privately owned company and one of the largest full-service construction firms in the United States. McHugh is known for its collaborative, transparent, and efficient approach to project delivery. The firm offers a comprehensive suite of services, including general contracting, construction management, design-build, preconstruction, program management, concrete construction, and structural engineering. With an 80% repeat client rate, McHugh has earned a reputation for delivering complex projects on time and within budget while fostering strong partnerships with subcontractors. Signature projects include five-star hotels such as The Peninsula, Ritz-Carlton Chicago, and Four Seasons; record-setting high-rises like 1000M, St. Regis Chicago, NEMA Chicago and Aqua Tower; and major recreational venues including the United Center and the Dr. Conrad Worrill Track and Field Center at Gately Park. McHugh also led the award-winning transformation of Navy Pier through its Centennial Vision renovation. McHugh has completed projects in Nashville, St. Louis, Minneapolis, South Florida, and other key markets. For more information, visit www.mchughconstruction.com.

About Nacional Group:

Nacional Group is a fast-growing, Hispanic-owned organization providing industry-leading building solutions nationwide. Specializing in general contracting, construction management, facilities maintenance and self-perform trade work, Nacional partners with 35+ Fortune 500 companies with work spanning over 2,500 Walgreens stores, weekly projects at the University of Chicago for more than five years, and ongoing programs for several of America’s largest banks. Recognized as an NMSDC Corporate Plus Member, Nacional continues to expand its capabilities through innovation, strategic alliances and targeted growth initiatives. The company is equally committed to creating opportunities for underrepresented individuals and communities, advancing access and career pathways across the construction and service industries.