Update April 25, 2024
- The basement, parking lot and shipping/receiving areas are largely completed with only a few punch list and HVAC issues remaining.
- The B-Wing is 95% complete. What remains is the installation of the air handler, final touch up painting and counter work in the new classroom.
- The first set of moveable walls has arrived and has been set up. These walls can be configured in a variety of floor plans for use in tactical, crime scene and other scenario-based training. ILEAS plans on buying additional units to expand the portable wall concept.
- The courtyard improvements are moving but not as quickly as anticipated. However, progress is being made.
- After construction is complete, the floors need sealed, audio-visual and security technology needs to be installed and furniture purchased.
An open house is anticipated later this year. More on those details as we get closer.
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Update March 29, 2024
- The parking lot is now completed. It has been expanded to accommodate 50 more vehicles. Trees and landscaping have been completed and all the new parking lot lights are installed and working.
- The basement remodel is complete. Work included merging two rooms into one, removing all vestiges of its previous purpose of a nursing home laundry area. New miscellaneous storage, telecommunications and radio secured storage and an area for radio technicians to do programming and repair work completed. Over the next few weeks, all the communications equipment will be returned from remote storage into this newly developed space.
- The shipping and receiving area is 95% completed with only HVAC closeout work yet to be done. Upon completion, ILEAS's receiving area will double in size. This will greatly improve the inventory control for the millions of dollars of LE equipment coming in and out of ILEAS regularly.
- The B Wing remodel is approximately 85% complete. The new classroom that will potentially seat 150 or more is largely done with only a few minor items left. The installation of A/V technology and the outer entrance door to be completed.
- The B Wing tactical training area is nearing completion as well. This nearly 18,000 square foot open area is available for a variety of uses. ILEAS has acquired two sets of movable wall systems so that any configuration of rooms, hallways, etc. can be created by instructors to tailor the environment to the curriculum. The only hold back in this area is the HVAC air handler. It was ordered in October of 2023. Its expected delivery date is mid-June (supply chain issues). Once that is installed, ILEAS will get an occupancy permit to begin using this area immediately.
- Lastly, the pavilion in the enclosed courtyard between the C and A Wings is nearing completion as well. This area will be available to students, visitors and staff for class breaks and outdoor training and other activities. Prior to this remodel, that courtyard was completely overgrown with trees, bushes and plants. Once it is done, it will be mostly concrete and a perimeter of low maintenance landscaping.
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Update February 14, 2024
- Demolition work throughout the facility is complete. The contractors have removed the walls from approximately about 15 offices and other spaces.
- Remodeling work is well underway! ILEAS is looking at a Mid-April completion date.
- One caveat to that date is the delivery of an air handling unit which is not scheduled to be deliverd until June.
- Drywall, HVAC, electrical and plumbing work is all underway.
- The basement remodel is almost complete. Painting and trim work is still underway.
- The new classroom in the B wing is starting to take shape.
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Update - November 8, 2023
- We reported before that the anticipated time for the parking lot expansion and repaving would not occur until spring of 2024. Fortunately, Open Road Paving got right to it and will be largely done by November 10th. There are now a total of 151 parking spaces at the Training Center. check out the photos during and after their work.
- The demolition is well underway in the B Wing. The contractors have removed the walls from approximately about 15 offices and other spaces. One part of the wing will be converted into a classroom and the other will be used as an open area for tactical training. The next step is to start refinishing the area into usable space.
- As of November 10th, the asbestos removal project will be completed.
| Parking Lot | B Wing |
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UPDATE - September 22, 2023
- After receiving sealed bids, Felmley Dickerson Company of Champaign, Illinois was selected as the general contractor for this project.
- The asbestos removal contractor that started on August 21st, has cleared asbestos from the B Wing and the Basement Communications Storage area. They are currently finishing up the C Wing. It is anticipated that within two weeks, asbestos abatement for the entire building will be completed.
- Felmly Dickerson has begun the demolition work in the B Wing and the center courtyard.
- Bids were let for the replacement of the current parking lot and its expansion to the west.
- Open Roads paving submitted the only bid.
- Contract negotiations are underway with Open Roads Paving to begin work (most likely to begin in early Spring of 2024).
ILEAS would also like to thank the late Senator Scott Bennett and his family for working hard to identify the funding to make this project come to life.
UPDATE - August 1, 2023
- IGW Architects from Urbana, Illinois was selected as the architect and project manager.
- Reliable Environmental Solutions, Inc. from Springfield, Illinois was selected as the asbestos abatement project manager.
- After receiving sealed bids, Felmley Dickerson Company of Champaign, Illinois was selected as the general contractor for this project.
- Bidding is underway to select an asbestos abatement contractor.
- Asbestos abatement starts on August 21st.
- Once that is complete, then the general contractor will start its remodeling work.
- The ILEAS Governing Board has met and approved the plan and the expenditure of the funds and engagement of contracts
- Over the summer, ILEAS part time individuals who were assigned some demolition work (removal of cabinets, cleaning, furniture/equipment moving) to prepare the A and B Wings for construction.
- Berns, Clancy and Associates of Urbana, Illinois was selected as the parking lot engineers.
- Bidding will begin shortly for the parking lot contractor.
It should be noted that the State of Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) developed Business Enterprise Program (BEP) goals for this project. The BEP goals established by DCEO was the hiring of minority and female-owned businesses. The goals were set at 11% minority-owned businesses/contractors and 7% female-owned businesses/contractors. with regard to the general and asbestos contractors, ILEAS has met those goals.
ILEAS would also like to thank the late Senator Scott Bennett and his family for working hard to identify the funding to make this project come to life.
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As we have previously announced, ILEAS received a $3 million grant from the State of Illinois through the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) to remodel the ILEAS Training Center (ITC). The grant is routed from through the City of Urbana to ILEAS as a sub-grantee. ILEAS is currently awaiting the final approval from DCEO. However, we have already issued an RFP for architectural services and selected IGW Architecture (IGW) from Urbana as the project architect. The project budget will be $2.975 million ($25,000 retained by Urbana for grant processing). Based on a previous feasibility study, the remodeling will focus on:
- Remodeling and upgrading the basement storage area in order to safely store and secure communications technology
- Expand and resurface the north parking lot to accommodate more vehicles
- Demolish individual rooms and remove the ceiling in the B Wing of the building in order to accommodate more versatile scenario-based training events
- Remove the remaining asbestos in the building
- Expand the shipping/receiving area
- Create a new "laboratory" style classroom where training can be conducted that requires the ability to be cleaned easily. This includes the annual EOD robot maintenance training, crime scene processing and other training that cannot be conducted in a normal carpeted classroom
- Clean-up of one of the five enclosed courtyards to be used for outdoor training not visible to the public
Bids for the work have been going out and the engineering/architectural work is being completed. Once the remodeling is completed, ILEAS will have a community-wide open house to highlight what is available at the ITC for professional groups to rent/lease.
As we have previously announced, ILEAS received a $3 million grant from the State of Illinois through the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) to remodel the ILEAS Training Center (ITC). The grant is routed from through the City of Urbana to ILEAS as a sub-grantee. ILEAS is currently awaiting the final approval from DCEO. However, we have already issued an RFP for architectural services and selected IGW Architecture (IGW) from Urbana as the project architect. The project budget will be $2.975 million ($25,000 retained by Urbana for grant processing). Based on a previous feasibility study, the remodeling will focus on:
- Remodeling and upgrading the basement storage area in order to safely store and secure communications technology
- Expand and resurface the north parking lot to accommodate more vehicles
- Demolish individual rooms and remove the ceiling in the B Wing of the building in order to accommodate more versatile scenario-based training events
- Remove the remaining asbestos in the building
- Expand the shipping/receiving area
- Create a new "laboratory" style classroom where training can be conducted that requires the ability to be cleaned easily. This includes the annual EOD robot maintenance training, crime scene processing and other training that cannot be conducted in a normal carpeted classroom
- Clean-up of one of the five enclosed courtyards to be used for outdoor training not visible to the public
Bids for the work have been going out and the engineering/architectural work is being completed. Once the remodeling is completed, ILEAS will have a community-wide open house to highlight what is available at the ITC for professional groups to rent/lease.