New Lenox School District 122 Approves $908,900 Equipment Purchase for Tyler Elementary HVAC Overhaul

Meeting Summary and Briefs: New Lenox School District 122 Meeting | August 2025

Article Summary: The New Lenox School District 122 Board of Education has authorized the pre-purchase of $908,900 in HVAC equipment for a major renovation at Tyler Elementary School, slated for the summer of 2026. The total project, estimated at over $8.1 million, will modernize the school’s 1980s-era heating and cooling systems and include numerous other building upgrades.

Tyler HVAC Renovation Key Points:

• The board approved a $908,900 equipment order through the OMNIA Partners Purchasing Cooperative.

• The total projected cost for the renovation, including installation and other improvements, is $8,148,000.

• The project will replace the school’s original 1980 heating infrastructure with a modern, energy-efficient V.R.F. system.

• Additional upgrades will include new ceilings, dimmable LED lighting, a new Public Address system, and a new Fire Alarm System.

The New Lenox School District 122 Board of Education on Tuesday, August 19, 2025, approved a significant first step in a multi-million dollar renovation of Tyler Elementary School, authorizing the pre-purchase of $908,900 in new HVAC equipment. The total project, with an estimated cost of $8,148,000, aims to completely overhaul the school’s mechanical systems during the summer of 2026.

Business Manager/CSBO Robert Groos explained that the equipment must be purchased well in advance to ensure it is delivered before installation work begins. The district is using the OMNIA Partners Purchasing Cooperative to comply with state purchasing laws while securing competitive pricing.

Rob Wroble of Legat Architects presented the project’s design and timeline to the board, detailing the necessity of the upgrades. “Tyler School relies on the original heating system infrastructure which dates back to 1980 when the building was opened,” Wroble’s presentation noted, identifying Tyler as the last of four older district schools to receive such a modernization.

The current system is supplied by centralized hot water boilers and uses original pneumatic tubing, valves, and thermostats for temperature control. The aging infrastructure also includes two air-cooled condensing units and cabinet unit ventilators that are beyond their life expectancy.

The proposed replacement is a Variable Refrigerant Flow (V.R.F.) mechanical system, which separates heating and cooling from ventilation. This design is more energy-efficient as it reduces the need to pre-heat or cool large amounts of outside air. Instead of a boiler and chiller, the V.R.F. system uses heat pumps and circulates refrigerant through a two-pipe network to fan coil units in each room. The district is already familiar with this technology, as it is currently operating in three other schools.

Benefits of the new system, according to the presentation, include lower operating costs, smaller equipment, and excellent temperature and humidity control, with thermostats located in every room.

Beyond the mechanical overhaul, the project will fund a host of other improvements throughout the school. These include new bookshelves and storage cabinets in every classroom, new ceilings with dimmable LED light fixtures, a new Public Address System, and a new Fire Alarm System.

During the meeting, board members asked clarifying questions about the project’s logistics. Member Al Haring inquired about equipment storage, to which Mr. Wroble confirmed it would be stored off-site by the contractor or a third party. In response to a question from Member Nicole DeGrave, Wroble noted that while different companies installed the V.R.F. systems at other schools, the equipment and warranties are the same, ensuring consistency.

The project timeline calls for the board to approve the final construction contracts in December 2025. Final bond financing options to fund the project will be reviewed and approved by the board later in the fall of 2025.