March 16, 2018

Mayor Emanuel and Representative Daniel Burke Break Ground on a Modular at Columbia Explorers Academy

Modular will house 6 new classrooms with a modern design and larger windows

Mayor's Press Office    312.744.3334

Mayor Rahm Emanuel today joined Representative Daniel Burke to break ground on the new modular at Columbia Explorers Academy. The addition is fully ADA accessible and includes 6 new classrooms with restrooms and storage spaces. Site improvements include a new playlot, exterior finishes and perimeter landscape.

“Schools like Columbia Explorers are taking it day by day and class by class to provide a great learning environment for kids from Pre-K through 8th grade so they are prepared for high school,” said Mayor Emanuel. “This modular will provide students and teachers with extra space and facilities necessary to obtain a 21st century education.”

Columbia Explorers is a neighborhood elementary school. This project is designed to relieve overcrowding at the school by adding 6 typical classrooms and support spaces.

The modular will be constructed by the Public Building Commission and is expected to be complete by August 2018. The General Contractor, OCA Construction, Inc., is a certified WBE firm.

Mayor Emanuel and CPS have addressed overcrowding at over 35 local schools in recent years, including Skinner, Zapata, Dore, Dawes, South Loop, Prussing, Addams, Little Village, Bridge, Onahan, Ebinger, Pasteur, Canty, Byrne, Edwards, Dore, Garvey, Hale, Peck, Stevenson, Dirksen, Sauganash, and many more. The Mayor remains committed to working with communities to find innovative ways to relieve overcrowding.

The City of Chicago has been committed to broad investment in capital projects at schools across the city. Investments with CPS has included new schools and annexes, playgrounds and air conditioning, improvements and access to technology, new computers and expanded bandwidth, expanded academic programs and core facilities investments.

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