GA_081519

4 | August 15, 2019 | The glencoe anchor news
glencoeanchor.com
2
NOW
OPEN!
Highland Park Veterinary Clinic is a practice
dedicated to providing the highest quality pet
care in a professional and friendly environment.
Our team specializes in medical, surgical, dental,
and general care for all life stages of your pet.
FIRST TIME CUSTOMERS
$25 OFF
HIGHLAND PARK VETERINARY CLINIC · 847.926.7444
your first visit
With this coupon.
Excludes food & preventatives. Not valid with any other offer or prior services.
Now
Taking
Appointments!
176 Skokie Valley Road, Highland Park
847.926.7444 • highlandparkvets.com
Mon, Tues & Thurs 8am-6pm • Fri 8am-5pm • Sat 9am-1pm
Dr. Jake Cohen
Family Owned,
Highland Park Native
Attendees check out the new pool at Loyola Academy’s grand-opening celebration
Sunday, Aug. 11, in Wilmette. Photos by Steve Donisch
Loyola upgrades ‘exceed
expectations’ from community
Eric DeGrechie
Managing Editor
Jack Scapin considers
every construction project
he oversees special, but
this one was a bit more
personal than most.
As project manager for
Chicago-based Valenti
Builders, he led a team that
recently completed a nearly
$20 million renovation
project at the Loyola Academy
campus in Wilmette
that includes a new stateof-the-art
pool and piazza.
“It’s been fantastic to
have the opportunity to
give back as a part of this
community,” said Scapin,
who graduated from
Loyola Academy in 1998,
during a tour of the project
for The Anchor last week.
“To be able to give a year
of my life back to this, or
actually plus, has been
special.”
Daniel Valenti, class of
2001, served as the project’s
general contractor.
A grand-opening celebration
was held at the private,
co-educational Jesuit
college preparatory high
school on Sunday, Aug.
11. Following Mass in the
West Gym and a blessing,
Loyola staff, including
President Rev. Patrick E.
McGrath, SJ, welcomed
attendees to check out the
new facilities.
“The idea of space,
height, light make it a
welcoming experience
for people who come on
our campus,” said Dennis
Stonequist (class of 1990),
executive vice president
at Loyola Academy. “It’s
way beyond exceeded our
expectations.”
Scapin said site work on
the project began in May
2018 with improvements
to the parking lots and
stormwater retention at
Lake and Laramie avenues
being the initial focus. In
June 2018, a “Crush the
Pool” event was held to
say goodbye to the old
pool. Following its destruction
and the passage
of a number of inspections,
the project was “full on.”
Among the challenges
of the project was overcoming
bad weather
throughout and structural
renovation issues.
“The building is 60
years old so you’re trying
to fit a building in-between
and build a new one while
maintaining the existing
building,” Stonequist said.
Despite any of these
problems, the project will
be completed on time for
the return of students on
the first day of classes on
Monday, Aug. 19.
The centerpiece of the
renovation is the John D.
Norcross Aquatic Center
with an estimated price tag
of $16 million. It is dedicated
to the memory of former
Please see loyola, 6