Northbrook District 28 opens newly built Meadowbrook School gymnasium

Families and community members gathered April 9 as Northbrook District 28 opened a new 10,000-square-foot gymnasium at Meadowbrook Elementary, the first completed project after voters approved a nearly $95 million referendum in April 2025.

On April 9, families, community members and Northbrook School District 28 officials gathered at Meadowbrook Elementary to mark the opening of a new gymnasium. The facility is the first major project finished after voters approved a nearly $95 million bond referendum in April 2025 and is part of the district’s 10-year Build 28 master facilities plan. District leaders also committed $20 million in existing operating funds toward the work. The gym is one of a series of renovations planned across four District 28 schools, with Meadowbrook slated for the most extensive updates. Key details: - The opening event took place April 9 at Meadowbrook Elementary. - The gymnasium is reported as a 10,000-square-foot facility with enhanced wood flooring, designated student restrooms and a premium sound system. - Funding for the Build 28 program combines a nearly $94.9 million referendum approved in April 2025 and $20 million from the district’s operating funds. - This gym is the first completed construction in a series of projects across four District 28 schools. - Happ Builders Inc. served as the primary contractor and DLA Architects designed the gymnasium. - The contractor described the gym as a "storm shelter gymnasium" and reported it can withstand winds up to 250 miles per hour. Summary: The new Meadowbrook gym provides updated athletic and safety features for nearly 460 kindergarten through fifth-grade students and represents the first tangible result of the district’s Building Tomorrow Together campaign. Contractors said construction for the next phases must begin soon to meet an August 2027 deadline, and Happ Builders will lead the broader renovations across four District 28 schools. The work is part of the district’s 10-year Build 28 plan funded by the referendum and existing operating funds.