This fall, many students returned to the halls of LFHS only to recognize that they looked a little different from how they left them. As many community members and students know, LFHS is in the process of undergoing several renovations, both internally and externally. To make our school safer, healthier, and more secure, there has been extensive planning for the improvements that LFHS is undergoing.
From March 2022 to September 2024, LFHS had been working on the Enabling Phase of renovations. This phase included Lower Level renovations that focused on updated HVAC systems, rebranded interim classrooms, and allowed for more flexible learning spaces.
As of March 2025, LFHS has entered Phase 1 of construction. This currently puts up about 35% completion of the total renovation. This phase is recognized as where most of the construction will take place.
For community members, and especially LFHS students, there have been significant visible changes to the layout and completion of the project. The lower level of our school has taken a focus on world language classrooms, CAD, and the robotics lab, which has been recognized as an opportunity for staff to better instruct and collaborate with students.
“The lab is really nice. It makes me happy to go to robotics class in the basement knowing there’s such a good space for me to work. Right now, it’s unorganized, and a lot of the robotics tools are all over the place because the construction is so recent, but once it is put together, it will be really worth it,” senior robotics student Cece Gordon said.
Continuing with Phase 1, LFHS is focusing on the first floor’s small theater and auditorium lighting, the second floor’s science labs, and the third floor’s English classrooms. With that, HVAC updates and LED lighting improvements across the building will continue to advance.
Phase 2 entails the construction close-out: finishing touches will be put on the school’s enhancements and renovations. The Phase plans to begin in July 2027 and will conclude District 115’s planned project. The close-out focuses on bettering the classrooms’ technology, flexibility, and collaboration.
“We’re going to have options for technology on both sides of the classroom, so that teachers have more flexibility, ultimately so that they can do their job better,” said the Director of Facilities, Daniel Mortensen.
There has been particular excitement for the exterior of the building. The school’s old architecture adds a unique element to the building’s aesthetic. Established in 1935, the building reached its 90th anniversary, but is luckily being kept to date through the renovations.
“The historic windows that we’re renovating, the chimneys, the fresh paint on the crown moldings, and all the craftsmanship from 1935 that we have not done a great job maintaining over the years is getting taken care of, so generations can enjoy the outside of the building,” Mortensen said.
The 105.7 million dollar project has luckily experienced no delays thus far. Although the construction team has encountered minor delays, the project has been described as running smoothly with no major changes to the project schedule, with a large thanks to the construction crew. The job is far from finished, but with an average of 110 tradespeople on site daily, scheduled renovations will continue to look promising.
“By and large, the project has gone smoothly. I have been extremely impressed with how clean and quiet the crew is. We’ve had a really good partnership with Pepper Construction,” said Associate Principal, Dr. Patrick Sassen.
The public has been overly involved thanks to the collaboration of members within the Lake Forest, Lake Bluff, and Knollwood communities. District members, students, and staff have received updates on the project through public information meetings and episodes of “Under the Hard Hat”, a video series that educates about the referendum.
Another important aspect addressed through the referendum is the benefits geared toward the safety of LFHS students and staff members. Updated fire protection systems, door sensors on exterior doors, and rapid lockdown systems are all additions that will benefit our community’s safety and well-being.
By protecting and preserving the 90-year-old estate, students’ learning environments, academic support, and overall excellence will continue to be enhanced through these renovations. With the project expected to be finalized in 2028, there is so much opportunity being brought to LFHS through the D155 referendum.
