Naperville Community Unit School District 203

New
Transportation
Facility

A modern, sustainable place for the people who get our students to school safely, every day.

12,400

Square Feet

$18.5M

Est. Project Cost

Dec 2026

Target Completion

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The Need

Why We're Building

District 203's transportation team of approximately 150 staff is responsible for safely moving students to and from school every single day. For years, they've done that work out of a facility that was long past its useful life.

In May 2025, it was determined that the existing transportation operations needed to be relocated due to ongoing issues with the aging facility — a dated driver/office trailer that had reached the end of its useful life, overcrowded spaces, and conditions that no longer met the needs of drivers, mechanics, or office staff.

After a temporary lease arrangement through July 2026, the District is now constructing a permanent, purpose-built home for transportation operations at Fifth Avenue.

📹 See the Old Facility

End-of-Life Facility

The existing driver/office trailer was deteriorating and could no longer safely or adequately serve the department's needs.

Proper Workspaces

Drivers, office staff, and mechanics needed dedicated, code-compliant spaces — from meeting rooms to restrooms to mechanic bays.

Safety & Security

The new design prioritizes improved working conditions, secured access, and better visibility across the entire facility.

Long-Term Fiscal Responsibility

Funded through the District's Capital Projects Fund (Fund 60), with no new taxes — and designed to save money for decades through energy efficiency.

District's Carbon Action Plan

The Board selected a geothermal and solar design that reduces grid dependency to ~30% and projects $4.3M in energy savings through 2050.

Due Diligence

Why Build Here? Other Options We Considered

Before recommending new construction on District property, administration evaluated all realistic alternatives. Here's what that analysis found.

✕ Not Viable

Rent or Purchase Other Property Across Town

The District evaluated available properties for rent or purchase throughout Naperville. No suitable option existed that could accommodate the full scope of transportation operations without significant retrofitting.

Any off-site location would have required relocating staff parking, the bus lot, maintenance garage, fueling station, and electric charging infrastructure
Retrofitting an existing commercial space for bus operations requires extensive permitting and structural modifications — driving up costs significantly
Moving the operation away from its central location would have changed bus routes, increasing driver hours and fuel costs on an ongoing basis
Ongoing lease or mortgage payments would add permanent operational costs to the District's budget year after year

✕ Not Cost-Effective

Long-Term Lease of Current Temporary Space

The current temporary lease arrangement (through July 2026) was the only option that allowed the District to maintain the existing bus lot, fueling, and charging infrastructure in place during planning.

This was always intended as a short-term bridge — not a permanent solution
A long-term lease would mean perpetual operational costs with no equity or ownership benefit to the District
The temporary space does not meet the long-term needs of drivers, mechanics, or office staff

✓ Recommended & Approved

Build a New Facility on District-Owned Property

Building on the existing Fifth Avenue site was the most cost-effective path — and the only option that treated this as a one-time capital expense rather than an ongoing operational cost.

No relocation of the bus lot, fuel station, or electric charging infrastructure required
Keeps the operation centrally located, preserving existing bus routes and avoiding increases to driver hours or fuel costs
One-time capital expense funded through Fund 60 — no new taxes, no ongoing lease obligations
New construction allowed the District to design specifically for transportation needs and incorporate geothermal and solar features projected to save $4.3M in energy costs through 2050
Builds a long-term asset on District-owned land that serves students for decades

Project History & Schedule

How We Got Here

Complete

May 2025

Need Identified — Temporary Lease Secured

Administration determined that transportation operations required relocation due to the aging facility. A temporary lease agreement was executed through July 2026.

Complete

July–August 2025

Board Authorization to Develop New Facility

Administration presented the case to the Board of Education under Policy 4:20. The Board authorized development of a new facility at the Fifth Avenue site in August 2025, removing the existing trailer and beginning design.

Complete

Fall 2025

Design Development — Staff Input Incorporated

A cross-functional team of district leaders, architects (Healy Bender Patton & Been), engineers (AMSCO), and construction managers (Pepper Construction) developed the building design with direct input from drivers and mechanics.

Complete

October–November 2025

Board Approves Geothermal & Solar Design

The Board selected the Level 2 sustainability design — featuring geothermal-powered mechanicals and full rooftop solar — aligning the project with the District's Carbon Action Plan goals and a projected 6-year payback on the additional investment.

Complete

January–February 2026

Public Bid Process & Contractor Selection

Bids were solicited via legal notice in the Naperville Sun on January 12, 2026. A public bid opening was held February 5, 2026 at the 203 Administration Center. Pepper Construction reviewed all bids and recommended the lowest responsive, responsible bidder for each of 18 trade packages.

Complete

February 17, 2026

Board of Education Contract Award

The Board approved award of all 18 trade contracts with a total contractor bid amount of $12,288,313. The District is working with the City of Naperville on permitting prior to breaking ground.

Underway

Spring 2026

Construction Begins

The District has received its permit from the ROE and is actively working with the City of Naperville on final permitting. Construction fencing is in place and the construction trailer has been set. Full site work is expected to begin in spring 2026, with a December 2026 completion target remaining in place.

Upcoming

December 8, 2026

Substantial Completion

The new 12,400 square foot transportation facility is targeted for substantial completion in December 2026, allowing the department to transition out of temporary space ahead of the July 2026 lease expiration with final completion shortly after.

Construction Progress

See It Taking Shape

Construction is underway at Fifth Avenue. Check back here as we share updates, drone footage, and photos throughout the build.

📹 Drone Footage — Latest Site Update

Summer 2026

Site Construction Underway

Construction has started on the project. Crews are working on clearing the land and laying the foundation for the new Transportation building.

Architectural Renderings

What It Will Look Like

Designed by Healy Bender Patton & Been Architects, the new facility features precast concrete construction with a face brick exterior, dedicated mechanic bays, a welcoming main entry, ample parking, and a full rooftop solar array. These renderings were shared with the Board in November 2025 prior to the approval of the project design.

Architectural rendering of the new Transportation Facility main entry, showing brick exterior, canopy entrance, flagpole, and school buses in parking lot

Southwest Mechanics Bay

Architectural rendering of the southwest view of the new Transportation Facility showing four large mechanic bay garage doors

Bird's-Eye — Rooftop Solar

Architectural rendering of the southeast view of the new Transportation Facility showing the parking lot and building exterior

Southeast Perspective

Bird's-eye architectural rendering of the new Transportation Facility rooftop covered with solar panels

Main Entry

Architectural rendering of the northwest view of the new Transportation Facility showing the upper clerestory windows and brick exterior

Main Entry Elevation

Budget & Sustainability

Responsible Investment

This project is funded through the District's Capital Projects Fund (Fund 60) — no new taxes required. The Board's selection of the geothermal and solar design option means the additional upfront investment will pay for itself in under seven years.

Contractor Bid Summary

Cast-in-Place & Precast Concrete $1,448,212

Steel $376,700

Carpentry & General Trades $627,100

Roofing $554,000

Mechanical & Geothermal $2,482,000

Electrical & Solar $1,687,400

Earthwork & Site Utilities $2,854,700

Paving & Landscaping & Fencing $1,315,441

Interior Finishes & MEP $942,760

Total Contractor Bids to Date $12,288,313

Costs captured in Fund 60 (Capital Projects) across FY26 & FY27. Includes acceptance of Alternate #1 — a two-year solar panel maintenance agreement. Total project cost including soft costs is estimated at $18.5M.

🌱 Built for the Future

The Board chose the Level 2 sustainability design — pairing geothermal-powered mechanical systems with a full rooftop solar array. This reduces the building's reliance on the energy grid from 99% down to approximately 30%.

30% Grid Reliance

~6 yrs Investment Payback

$4.3M Projected Energy Savings Through 2050

Strong Carbon Action Plan Alignment

Project Leadership

Who's Building It

This project is led by an experienced team of district administrators, architects, engineers, and construction professionals — all working together to deliver the facility on time and within budget.

Architect