Overhauled fields, new science labs, moved admin offices — the latest on New Trier renovations

As New Trier High School prepares to begin the new school year, a number of multi-year construction projects at both of the district’s campuses are nearing completion.

The School Board and community received an update on the projects from Deputy Superintendent Dr. Chris Johnson during the board’s meeting on Monday, Aug. 17, two days before the first day of school.

Northfield athletic project a month away

Renovations to the Northfield campus athletic facilities, primarily funded by an anonymous $10 million donation, are expected to be completed by the end of September, according to Johnson.

Phase 2 of the project has seen the installation of a new video scoreboard at the main stadium, which itself was completed last fall before the start of the 2025-’26 school year. Other completed improvements include a new press box, new visiting team bleachers, improved stadium lighting, and a pathway under the new bleachers that provides access to two new fields to the north.

The remaining improvements, including two new synthetic turf fields, are near completion, Johnson said.

“The two new fields we expect to open within the next week,” he said, adding that each field has its own construction crew working “at a really great pace.”

Johnson said a new press box, located in between the two new fields, is set to open by Sept. 25, which is also the same day the new community walking and fitness path is projected to open.

He thanked Northfield Campus Principal Paul Waechtler, the campus physical plant services department, and Athletic Director Augie Fontanetta, “who’s just such an expert in facilities and has been helping supervise all this work.”

Johnson added that the first home football game of the season is Friday, Aug. 21.

“The fields are ready for the home football game, visitor bleachers are ready, new lights are ready,” he said. “We’re excited to welcome Naperville North on Friday.”

Winnetka campus project continues

“We’re in the third and final year of our Winnetka campus north and tower building project,” Johnson said as he continued with his update on construction projects.

As previously reported by The Record, the project is focusing on the center of the Winnetka campus and involves remodeling and relocating administrative offices, renovating student services, and improving science labs.

Johnson said the new principal’s office, which is now located near the north entrance of the school, opened last winter, after it was relocated from the second floor.

In May, five of the 10 new science labs were completed, “and kids were even in there before the end of last year,” according to Johnson.

The new post-high school counseling office, which was also relocated near the north entrance from the second floor, was completed this past week, with Johnson saying the counselors are all moved into their new spaces.

A new security vestibule at the north entrance is also nearing completion.

“That entrance was secure, but this brings it to an even higher standard that we think is the best environment now to keep that entrance — that’s probably our busiest entrance — with the right security features we need,” Johnson said.

As for what remains, Johnson said the second floor is currently being remodeled to accommodate the remaining five science labs and the new science department office. Those will reportedly be opening throughout the school year.

New campus and district administration offices are expecting to open in the winter, which includes new offices for the graduating class teams.

One other addition Johnson highlighted is a collaborative space for staff, which is being built into the first floor courtyard.

“That’s a space for adults to collaborate, but it’s set up so we can build two more floors in the future for academic space on top of it,” he said.

Because the project is going on within the school during the year, Johnson said administrators are “collaborating with leaders to ensure minimal disruption to students.”

New cafeteria space at Northfield

The final project Johnson highlighted was the completion of a new food serving area at the Northfield campus cafeteria.

As previously reported by The Record, that area was formerly an unused dishwashing room, and in collaboration with Quest Food Management Services, the district’s food provider, it was converted into a new area for students to purchase food.

“This is going to be a benefit to our students, help them get through the line faster in a way that presents some different options to them,” Johnson said. “It’s an area that’s very similar to what we have in the east wing near the gym at Winnetka and at the Winnetka cafeteria. It’s nice to be able to bring this type of experience to Northfield.”

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