Project of the Year Feature: Rehab

January 20, 2026

BURR RIDGE – CISCO’s 5th 2025 Project of the Year Feature is the top choice of Rehab, which is the La Grange Park Public Library. The general contractor was Leopardo Construction; the client was La Grange Park Public Library District.

When considering submissions, judging criteria is based on: quality of construction, design, impact on the community and safety record.

In 2021, La Grange Park Public Library began to see their dream design take shape — a design that would bring to life their vision of an updated community gathering space. The root of the project started with an issue that arose in 2014, when board members were made aware of a severe water breach, primarily affecting the drywall and rusting the pillars on the east and west sides of the building. This issue originated from the way that the building was first constructed in 1989, with the intention of further renovation and expansion. What started as a repair project to address a failed exterior envelope developed into a total renovation encompassing a complete façade repair and update, along with an interior renovation of all three floors of the existing post-modern building.

Community members are now welcomed into a towering, colorful arched dome atrium, which permits a great deal of natural light to illuminate the library, while bright and playful colors throughout bring a fun and calming atmosphere for people of all ages to enjoy. Staff members were also interviewed before the design was finalized to ensure that their concerns and professional preferences for better efficiency and community service were addressed and implemented into the final design. One point in particular involved a large opening on the second floor, which has now been addressed and converted into new, usable space; the conversion has also helped reduce noise in the building. The Library embraced a post-modern motif with features that create a unique and dynamic environment that will serve future generations in La Grange Park.

Leopardo’s team of preconstruction and estimating experts helped guide La Grange Park Public Library through a complex field of material procurement and project funding. Materials with long lead times were identified up front and construction was adroitly scheduled around those times to ensure no delays. $4 million in bonds, as well as a $576,000 Public Library Construction Grant from the Illinois State Library, were also secured to fund the project, covering more than 80 percent of the renovation’s total cost, leaving a great deal more money in the library’s reserves to pour into community building and support initiatives. Leopardo also utilized its in-house team of Virtual Design & Construction (VDC) experts to create models of the building that helped ensure accuracy and prevent delays before they happened.

The project consisted of a full, 30,000-SF interior and exterior renovation of an existing space, with the replacement of a three-story curtain wall system, storefront doors, and 93 punched window openings. Leopardo reconfigured all administrative spaces and added independent study rooms, as well as a podcast/content creator room. All building fire alarm systems were upgraded with all new devices and wiring; HVAC was upgraded to automated building controls; and the deteriorating exterior ADA access ramp and handrails were replaced. Leopardo also added new spaces for self-checkout kiosks, a vending/coffee bar, three separate family friendly restrooms; the team also relocated the community room to the main floor to improve accessibility. The project was delivered on time and under budget.

Patrons expressed their overwhelming approval of the library’s design and offerings, noting particular enjoyment and appreciation of the study rooms, adult department with more than 30 laptops, teen lounge, and expanded children’s department. Another popular addition is the new bathrooms on the first floor — a feature previously absent from the library, which was last renovated in 2005. There is also a “Makerspace” area, where patrons can use their imaginations to create and expand their ideas on marker boards.

The whole town turned out for the grand opening of the Library , with many community businesses and municipal organizations supplying food and activities. A breakfast was supplied by Jewel Food; tea was served from Wonderful Matcha; beer came from local brewery Hop District; there was also a scavenger hunt, crafts for grades K-3, a Poetry Workshop, and a donut taste test. The coming together of so many community members, whether private or public, served to strengthen the bond between residents and strengthen the foundation of community and concern for the common welfare, doing so in celebration of a facility dedicated to the preservation and furtherance of knowledge, understanding, and forward progress.

This project had a customized safety plan and QR-code based safety orientation that allowed for immediate access to project safety information. Rather than a traditional “toolbox talk” style training, the project teams engaged in a 5-question quiz to determine how well they know that week’s safety topics.  Scores are utilized to follow-up as appropriate. Weekly safety visits were conducted by the Leopardo safety team to provide a new perspective and share recent news from other sites.  The Leopardo safety team also engaged with the weekly pull planning process to help with safety planning efforts. This project had zero incidents.