CPS Program Management

IEI has a long history of providing civil engineering services to the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) for their Capital Improvement Program (CIP) through the Program Planning, & Design Management Services team (PPDM). IEI’s extensive history of excellence provided to the PPDM Office resulted in IEI participating in the management of the Capital Improvement Program since 2007 on multiple Architectural/Engineering (A/E) program teams, overseeing all the civil, site, and landscape components.

Part of this contract involves transforming Chicago schoolyards through the Space to Grow program, which creates spaces that prioritize physical activity, outdoor learning and community engagement. These spaces are beautiful, functional areas to play, learn, garden and be outside.

These schoolyards utilize special design elements to help reduce neighborhood flooding through absorption, preventing combined sewer overflow, reducing urban heat island effects and building resilience by replacing asphalt spaces with green ones. Each schoolyard features multiple green infrastructure elements such as permeable pavers, rain gardens, native landscaping, and other permeable play surfaces.

Approximately 3-5 schoolyards have been updated each year since the program began in 2014, and each feature multiple green infrastructure elements such as permeable pavers, rain gardens, native landscaping, and other permeable play surfaces. Program partners include CPS, Chicago Department of Environment, Chicago Department of Water Management, and the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago.

As Design Managers, IEI supports Space to Grow projects with budget and reimbursement analysis for CPS school selection, facilitation of community input, management of schoolyard design, and construction administration.