Elementary school construction costs: CPS vs. UNO
By Linda LuttonElementary school construction costs: CPS vs. UNO
By Linda LuttonThe Public Building Commission of Chicago manages school construction projects and renovations for Chicago Public Schools.
The following chart shows costs and construction duration times for recent elementary school projects.
The new UNO Soccer Academy school is the lowest cost elementary school constructed in recent years. But because it’s built for fewer students, the UNO school cost taxpayers thousands more per seat. Construction times at the UNO school were significantly lower.
CPS Elementary School | Year Opened | Total Project Cost | Square Feet | Student Seats | Cost per Seat | Construction Duration |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dr. Jorge Prieto Math & Science Academy | 2009 | $36,852,201 | 105,576 | 900 | $40,947 | 14 months |
Mark T. Skinner Elementary School | 2009 | $32,869,750 | 101,000 | 742 | $44,299 | 16 months |
Irene C. Hernandez | 2009 | $39,473,359 | 126,748 | 1230 | $32,092 | 15 months |
Lorca Elementary School | 2010 | $31,799,017 | 104,709 | 900 | $35,332 | 17 months |
West Ridge Elementary School | 2010 | $33,735,131 | 105,177 | 900 | $37,483 | 17 months |
Mariano Azuela Elementary School | 2010 | $31,133,510 | 105,177 | 900 | $34,593 | 16 months |
Calmeca Academy | 2010 | $38,509,021 | 105,177 | 900 | $42,788 | 15 months |
Ogden International School of Chicago* | 2011 | $54,066,653 | 109,000 | 900 | $60,074 | 19 months |
Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Paideia Academy | 2011 | $29,333,914 | 104,709 | 900 | $32,593 | 17 months |
AVERAGE CPS | $36,419,173 | 107,475 | 919 | $39,624 | 16.2 months | |
AVERAGE CPS excluding Ogden | $34,213,238 | 107,284 | 922 | $37,128 | 15.9 months | |
UNO Soccer Academy | 2011 | $27,000,000 | 63,300 | 580 | $46,552 | 10 months |
*Project cost at Ogden is higher due to underground parking facility.
Total Project Cost includes cost of construction and other costs such as land acquisition, site remediation, and site development.
Source: Chicago Building Commission of Chicago and UNO
CORRECTION: A correction was made to this story on 9/19/2011 at 10:30am. An earlier version of this chart misstated the average cost per seat of a new CPS grammar school. That cost is $39,624. If Ogden International is excluded, the average cost per seat is $37,128.