Board selects Barnhill-led team for Clayton High School design-build; members express cost and design concerns
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Summary
The board voted to hire Barnhill and partner LS3P as the design-build team for the Clayton High School project after interviews and a bond committee recommendation; several members raised questions about cost estimates, reuse of an existing 600 Building, and site logistics.
The Johnston County Board of Education approved a motion to select Barnhill, in partnership with LS3P Architects, as the recommended design-build team to lead the Clayton High School replacement project.
The district issued a request for qualifications and interviewed four shortlisted teams; the bond committee recommended Barnhill by a 2-1 vote. Presentations were conceptual renderings intended to help the board select a team for the design and preconstruction phase. Barnhill's concept included a new academic building placed toward the north end of the campus while retaining an existing gym building.
During extended discussion, board members questioned cost comparisons among firms and whether the conceptual figures presented represented construction-only budgets or a completed, turnkey move-in price (which would include soft costs and FF&E). Several members also raised concerns about a proposal that could require relocating softball fields or other site elements and whether the district could retain the 600 Building (built in 2006) rather than raze it.
Superintendent and facilities staff said the selected team will move from conceptual design to detailed design and will return with cost estimates and options on retaining or removing existing structures; the board expressed a preference to evaluate whether the 600 Building can be reused before demolition decisions are final.
A motion to select Barnhill advanced after board discussion and a second; the board approved the selection by voice vote.
