Manchester committee hears update on Priority 1 school projects; GMP under review, ERV delivery delayed

The Manchester Committee on Joint School Buildings received an update on the school district’s Priority 1 construction projects Tuesday, with the owner’s project manager saying Consigli’s guaranteed maximum price for Group 1 (Hillside and McLaughlin) is under review, a terrain-alteration permit has been issued for Hillside, and a key HVAC part is delayed by about three weeks.

Mark Lenfest, owner’s project manager with Left Field, told the committee that Consigli submitted a GMP that “is in review,” and that the district has received the Group 1 full building permit and a terrain alteration permit coordinated with the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services. He also said the project remains “tracking, on budget.”

The update covered three project groupings: Group 1 (Hillside, McLaughlin), Group 2 (South Side, Parkside), and the Beach Street new-construction project. Lenfest said weekly owner–architect–contractor (OAC) meetings continue for Group 1 and that Miller Engineering was awarded a third-party material-testing contract that will cover all five projects.

Lenfest described a delay to modular HVAC work: "It's a energy recovery unit. So basically, it's it it has to do with the efficiency of the unit and the reuse of preheated air…" He reported the ERV deliveries are delayed and said, "So we won't see those until roughly the twentieth. It's about 3 weeks behind schedule." He added that the corrective HVAC work is being performed under warranty once the work is accepted by the district: "when they're done, then the warranty will start." The committee was told the vendor EEI has committed to the schedule.

On Beach Street, Lenfest said designers maintained a 10-foot offset from the north edge of an existing culvert and that the new foundation design will place construction outside the culvert's zone of influence. He said Beach Street mobilization is scheduled for February 2026 and that the Beach Street contract remains to be executed based on final schedule dates.

Groundbreakings for Group 1 were announced for this week: Lenfest gave times of "10AM at Hillside" and 10 a.m. Friday at McLaughlin. He said the new construction lines for the Beach project are scheduled to complete in June–July 2028 and that the district expects the new schools to be occupied for the 2028–29 school year (the first school day in September 2028).

Committee members asked about use of a local manufacturer, CalWall, for translucent panel systems; Committeewoman Kantor said she would like the company to be considered and offered to facilitate a later presentation. Lenfest said the design and contracting process seeks best value and that subcontractors and the general contractor make final selections during D-scope pricing and reconciliation.

Financial and schedule notes: Lenfest displayed a budget snapshot he said was current as of the report and stated the program is "tracking, on budget." He also said an invoice summary was not available at the meeting and would be issued as a follow-up to the clerk. Miller Engineering will perform material testing; Consigli is mobilized on Group 1 site work; Harvey was identified by the project team in connection with Group 2 preconstruction meetings.

The committee voted to accept the monthly status and financial report and to submit it to the Board of Mayor and Aldermen and the Board of School Committee for informational purposes. The motion to accept the report was moved by Committeewoman Soule, seconded by Committeewoman Terrio; the chair called for the ayes and said, "The ayes have it."