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Morton East HS Renovations
Priorities being addressed at the East Campus include: the re-establishment of the main
entrance to the high school on Austin Avenue, the reorganization of administrative and student
support services to improve customer service, the reinvention of the library as a collaborative
learning environment and building infrastructure improvements.

The re-establishment of the original front door and administrative and student support services
renovations improve accessibility; improve security, operations and administration, and improve
customer service by locating functions with a high degree of parent interaction close to the
front door and functions with a high degree of student access located in proximity to the student
areas. The first floor will include a new 2-story secure entry lobby with operations and
conferencing. The existing health clinic, currently located on the 2nd floor adjacent to the
school nurse’s office, will be relocated to the ground floor to provide direct exterior access for
visitors. Deans and Assistant Principal offices will be located on the 2nd floor while the 3rd floor
will be home to guidance counselors with an adjacent career center. The principal’s office will
be on the 4th floor. Site work for this project will include the addition of visitor parking spaces,
new sidewalks and ramps to access the entry.

The renovation of the existing library into a student centered multi-media collaboration and
production center incorporate additional space from underutilized and vacated space on the
third floor. The layout and architectural character respects the grand libraries of the past while
creating an energized space for student collaboration. The main third floor entry leads into a
great reading hall with smaller reading spaces and is a quiet study floor that will house all book
collections with areas for students to study individually or in small groups. The 3rd floor will include
a career center adjacent to the new guidance counselor offices. The 2nd floor of the library is
the active, collaborative space. It will be connected to the 3rd floor with an amphitheater/open
staircase that can accommodate student presentations or function as a casual collaboration
space. The remaining areas of the 2nd floor will include a digital media area, maker space and
various group study rooms. A genius bar will allow students to troubleshoot technical device
issues with their peers. An A/V office and equipment storage room will support technological
needs. Rooms requiring noise control will have glass walls to separate the space acoustically,
but still allow for supervision.

FGM assisted District 201 in obtaining Health Life Safety amendments to upgrade the antiquated
heating system to an energy efficient HVAC system. New units will reduce noise and increase
climate control to upgrade the learning environment. The upgrades will also include a refresh
of the classroom finishes including new carpet, vinyl floor tile, ceilings and wall finishes. Many of
the existing light fixtures will be replaced with LED fixtures which significantly reduce energy and
maintenance costs. FGM is also working with the district in selecting furniture, furnishings, and
equipment. The furniture, along with the technology, will allow the refreshed classrooms to be
more flexible, student-centric, and technology-friendly.

The project is scheduled for completion in August 2019.