Mayor Rahm Emanuel today joined Alderman Walter Burnett to cut the ribbon on the 36,000-square-foot annex at Skinner West Elementary School. The four-story annex has 22 classrooms, including an art room, a computer room, and a science lab, as well as a multi-purpose room that can accommodate up to 120 students for lunch.

“Skinner students are working hard to live up to their promise and potential, and this new annex will help ensure they are earning the first-rate education they deserve,” said Mayor Emanuel. “Expectations are high for Chicago students, and they deserve the space and facilities they need to succeed.”

“An investment in our children is an investment in the future of Chicago, and the state-of-the-art annex at Skinner will pay off in dividends for generations to come,” said Alderman Walter Burnett, 27th Ward. “Together with the Mayor and our community, I am proud to bring our students the facilities they need to continue concentrating on their studies.”

The annex was built to accommodate overcrowding relief at the school. The addition also includes a new elevator and a chiller, as well as renovations to the existing building and landscape. The annex was constructed by the Public Building Commission.

Mayor Emanuel and CPS have addressed overcrowding at over 40 local schools in recent years, including Zapata, Dore, Dawes, South Loop, Prussing, Addams, Little Village, Bridge, Onahan, Ebinger, Pasteur, Canty, Byrne, Edwards, Dore, Garvey, Hale, Peck, Stevenson, Dirksen, Sauganash, and many more. The Mayor remains committed to working with communities to find innovative ways to relieve overcrowding.

The City of Chicago has been committed to broad investment in capital projects at schools across the city. Investments with CPS has included new schools and annexes, playgrounds and air conditioning, improvements and access to technology, new computers and expanded bandwidth, expanded academic programs and core facilities investments.