James G. McConnell

The architect and structural engineer for the addition at the north end of the old Armory building specified floor beams too small for the loads. The beams began deflecting under the weight of the freshly poured concrete floor slab, necessitating 108 miles of field welding on site to reinforce the structural framework.

Mr. McConnell sued the architect and engineer, and won a settlement for $950,000.00 against them.

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About These Photos

From 1915 this Armory building housed the "Fighting Eighth" Illinois National Guard infantry regiment, the nations first African American military regiment. On completion of the restoration in 1999 Bronzeville Military Academy became the nation's first public JROTC high school, and remains the only one representing all branches of the United States military services.

Additional classroom space was added later in the north addition.

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Lessons Learned:

Get it right the first time.