Plans are moving forward on the Frontier Sports Complex activity center, with a $9.58 million construction management contract expected to be approved by the Naperville Park Board at its next meeting.
Wight & Co. has been recommended by staff to oversee construction of the $119.75 million building that will house an eight-lane lap pool, a warm-water therapy pool, an activity pool with water slide, play features and lap lanes, gymnasiums, exercise space, and a walking and jogging track. Funding for the south side project was approved by voters in a March election referendum.
Wight also oversaw construction of the Fort Hill Activity Center in 2014, Director of Planning Eric Shutes told the park board at its Thursday meeting.
Earlier this month the board approved an $8.55 million contract with Williams Architects, which also designed the Fort Hill Activity Center.
“It is important to commission the construction management team early in the design process to assist the team with developing a project that can be delivered on time and within the budget,” Shutes said.
The management team will be responsible for assisting the designers with a constructability review, schedule development and monitoring, cost estimates and on-site construction management. It will also help the district coordinate the multiple construction contracts that need to be awarded.
Currently, the Naperville Park District is in the design phase of project. Staff members plan to visit other facilities with indoor pools to gather information on facility design and operations, Shutes said. A broader project plan is expected ready sometime in late 2026 or early 2027.
Initially, construction management services fees were expected to be about $11.9 million, but staff were able to negotiate with Wight to bring the cost down to $9.58 million, officials said. That part of the project represents about 8% of the overall budget.
“I just wanted to thank staff for negotiating a contract that just saved taxpayers $2 million,” board member John Risvold said at the meeting. “That’s incredible. That’s great work, and we really appreciate it.”
When the park district was forming a construction team for the Fort Hill Activity Center in 2014, staff received offers from seven construction management firms and found Wight to be the best fit for the project.
In addition to the Fort Hill center, the firm has handled a number of other park district jobs, including work at the Nike Sports Complex, Knoch Knolls Park and the Knoch Knolls Nature Center.
“Wight’s track record of success in the city of Naperville, and specifically with the Naperville Park District, give staff a high level of confidence of their team,” Shutes said.
Wight was exempted from a competitive bidding process for the new activity center under park district code, which raised concerns with one board member who questioned whether the district should have sought bids.
“You referenced 2014, which is 12 years ago. A lot can change in that period of time,” Commissioner Rich Janor said. “I also think the competitive bid process would perhaps give us some new thoughts and ideas and a fresh perspective. I don’t see the harm in bidding this out.”
Board President Leslie Ruffing said she believed Wight’s long history with the district was a strong enough reason to use them again for this project.
“Having that relationship and seeing that positive experience over and over and over is a really compelling reason to use them. … Obviously, others in the community clearly trust them as well. They’re across the street from our site right now at Neuqua (Valley High School),” Ruffing said.
District officials have said in the past that the tentative plan calls for construction begin in 2027 and the facility open in 2029.
cstein@chicagotribune.com
