Ground is Broken in Cahokia Heights School District
By Fay Harvey听
CAHOKIA, Ill鈥擮n Oct. 18, the Cahokia Heights School District in St. Louis broke ground on the town鈥檚 newest high school. The facility will replace the original, 1950s high school, which lacked building systems 鈥 such as modern ventilation, heating cooling systems 鈥 and used a boiler system made from World War II submarine. This is one of the last schools in the metro-east area to receive a new facility, and the project is part of the district鈥s goal of revitalizing the area to address safety and accessibility, while promoting inclusivity and collaboration.听
The $80 million project will be built by Illinois company Poettker Construction of Breese, Ill.. The project team also includes national firms FGM Architects and SCI Enginering, with Swansea, Ill.-headquartered TWM Engineering. Together, the team will deliver on a design that blends the district’s colors with durable materials to create a timeless space, fostering a sense of connectivity for students, staff and visitors.听
鈥淚t鈥檚 rare to have the honor to work on such an impactful project for a local community and set of students that are so deserving of a new high school campus that brings them into and beyond the 21st century,鈥 said Aaron Keistler, project manager with FGMA, in a statement shared by the firm on social media.听听
The 180,000-square-foot school will sit on a 48-acre lot and will accommodate 1,110 students, with the capacity to serve up to 1,500 students in the future. The school will include classrooms, administrative and student support offices, a theater and performing arts spaces, career and technical education facilities, a cafeteria and kitchen, competition and auxiliary gyms, a library media center, storm shelter, emergency generator, parking for approximately 1,000 vehicles and new security measures. Athletic facilities surrounding the facility will include a football stadium, soccer field, all-weather track, baseball and softball fields, tennis courts, locker rooms, and spaces for concessions and ticket sales.听
Construction will take two years, and the school should open to students by fall 2026.听