CHS Cafeteria Project Construction Update - September 13, 2024

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    A mock-up of the renovated and expanded CHS cafeteria, set to open this fall!


    After construction began in June, the Chelsea High School Cafeteria Renovation and Expansion Project is well on its way! We wanted to share with our community an update on the status of the project as we anticipate the opening of the new cafeteria later this fall.

    Timeline

    The following timeline captures a summary of the project, which began in the fall of 2022:

    • Fall-Winter 2022 - Held student and staff meetings to receive feedback about the current cafeteria, how it could be improved and what students and staff would like in a new cafeteria.
    • January 2024 - Construction plans finalized.
    • June 2024 - The first phase of the cafeteria renovation begins.   
    • Summer 2024 - Construction continues throughout the summer. Starting in July, double shifts and working on weekends were implemented to complete the project as quickly as possible.
    • September-October 2024 -  Temporary outdoor dining space created for students that features a grab-and-go system. Students have the option to eat on the football field or in one of three tents.  Contingency plans are in place to eat inside in case of inclement weather
    • Late October 2024 - The cafeteria is estimated to open for occupancy by the end of October!

    Community Input about the Project  

    The project started by holding meetings with CHS community members including students and staff to collect feedback about the cafeteria. These meetings occurred in the fall and winter of 2022. Areas of improvement that were identified included the lack of space and seats, difficult mobility around the cafeteria and the desire for more food options. 
     
    Last school year, staff and students received presentations on the trajectory of the project and what will be accomplished. Videos of the presentations to students are available by clicking here for the presentation in English and clicking here for the presentation in Spanish.


    Students gathered in the CHS cafeteria in October of 2022 providing input on the redesign

    What Will Be New!

    The redesigned cafeteria will create a transformative space for students and staff to enjoy. New amenities will include:
     
    • Increased seating capacity from 325 seats to 500 seats (a 54% percent increase)
    • Larger serving lines
    • A “grab and go” counter where students can order an item in the morning and pick it up at the start of their lunch period
    • A kitchen twice the size of the previous kitchen 
    • “Café" style seating near the auditorium 
    • A large-scale television screen to use for school messaging and events

    Construction Photos

    The images below are photos taken during the first week of September that showcase the progress made to this point. Pictures include a photo of the main dining area, new cafeteria bathrooms and the "Café" styled seating near the auditorium.
     
    Next to each picture is an accompanying mock-up of what the finished product will look like.



    Main seating area in the center of the cafeteria

    New restrooms in the cafeteria

    New "Café" styled seating nearing the auditorium.


    In the Meantime

    While the cafeteria is under construction, students have been served breakfast and lunch in three tents outside of the school. Students can use one of the 425 seats available in the tents to eat, or they have the option to eat on the bleachers. Safety precautions include barriers around the tents, additional adult supervision including CPS crossing guards and the presence of school administrators and security. 
     
    Bathrooms are open on the athletic field for students to use. There are contingency plans for students in eat inside in the event of inclement weather.


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    Next Steps

    • It is anticipated that the teacher prep room and additional areas for school storage will be completed and open in September
    • Flooring and the installation of kitchen equipment is scheduled for October
    • The tentative date for the cafeteria to open is the end of the October