Herrick Middle School in Downers Grove began construction on its building during spring break of 2024. Since then, numerous changes have been added. Features that were once recognizable by the school’s alumni have since been removed.

“It looks like we’re in the 20th century and not in 1950,” science teacher Jessica Atkins said. “We have nicer tables and nicer things.”

The reason for such additions is to prepare for the transfer of sixth grade classes to Herrick’s main building that originally resided within the district’s elementary schools. Much is actively changing in order to carry out the alteration.

“I know they’re still doing construction. We have this final hallway, which is like the 6th grade science classrooms, and then a couple of additional classrooms,” Atkins said. “It allows us to have more space and it gives us another set of bathrooms.”

As construction has carried on, several former students have become more prone to notice the differences. The features they once associated their memories with may now be gone.

“I miss the big willow tree that was in the field,” junior Amariyah Brandon said. “Hiding behind it and pretending to do interval training was the highlight of seventh and eighth grade.”

There are plenty of new features that compensate for this. For instance, a new library was added during construction.

“Compared to the old library, we were stuck in a corner of the building, kind of hidden,” librarian Jeffrey Berger said.

“The kids love the new gathering stairs. There’s a couch over here with tables and a classroom area.”

The library was not the only major feature of the building to be worked on. Certain details of the gymnasium have changed vastly. Similar to the library, the gymnasium was granted a new building as well as improvements made on existing rooms.

“We have the new space, the new fitness center, the new main gym,” PE teacher Chuck Justis said. “We have better inside space.”