With Oak Park and River Forest High School’s Project 2 well underway, the school sets its sights on the future: Project 3. 

Project 2

Project 2, which started in the summer of 2024, involves an overhaul of the east athletic wing. This includes a 25-by-45-yard pool, a multi-purpose gym, new locker rooms, and more, at a total cost of $102 million. 

Of that, $89.5 million comes from the taxpayer and cash reserves. The remaining $12.5 million will come from the Imagine Foundation, a private charitable organization that works with OPRF to supplement public investment on construction projects. 

The Imagine Foundation has raised $10 million and is hoping to raise the remaining $2.5 million by the end of construction. 

“The support from alumni, parents, and community members has been overwhelming, and it’s a powerful reminder of how much this community values education and its students,” said Heidi Ruehle, the executive director of the Imagine Foundation. 

OPRF aims for Project 2 to be done by the summer of 2026, and ready for the 2026-2027 school year. The current construction is visible on Scoville Avenue. 

According to Assistant Superintendent for Business Services Anthony Arbogast, steel is now being put into place. The 2026-2027 school year “will hopefully be a very exciting one for students…It will bring a much-needed update for our physical education and athletic spaces,” said Arbogast. 

Project 3

Project 3, which would involve the renovation of performing arts spaces, including a new band room, orchestra room, black box theater, stagecraft workshop and more, is currently in the conceptual phase. 

The conceptual phase is when general proposals are being made for the project, with no solid decisions. Once the board approves of the concept, the school will move to the schematic design phase. Arbogast explained that this is when “the architects then design what it will look like from a high level.” 

The schematic design phase is also when the cost will be estimated and a construction schedule will be devised, according to Arbogast. The school board has not yet voted on how to fund Project 3.

Both Projects 2 and 3 are part of a larger five-project proposal composed by the Imagine Foundation. Project 1, which started during the summer of 2020 and lasted until the summer of 2023, focused on reconstructing central parts of the school, including the Student Resource Center, the South Cafeteria, the Welcome Center, and more. Project 1 cost a total of $42.2 million. 

Projects 4 and 5 are also included in the proposals, focusing on classrooms and student services for Project 4, and more commons and Physical Education facilities for Project 5.