Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Construction Progress topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Barnum and Norton construction on schedule; brick kiln issue and PCOs flagged for committee action
Summary
Contractors reported steady progress at the new Barnum (North End) and Norton schools and presented several project change items, including contaminated soils, a masonry kiln malfunction affecting a brick blend, and upcoming purchase orders; the committee scheduled a short virtual meeting to resolve invoices and PCOs.
Construction managers reported progress on both school sites and flagged a small set of cost and schedule risks for the School Building Committee to resolve.
Site and schedule: Contractors said site work and building framing are progressing and that overall percent complete on Barnum and Norton tracks to schedule. At Barnum (North End), building percent completions were reported in the single digits to mid‑20s by building block; Norton reported comparable progress with some brickwork and CMU ahead of Barnum. Temporary power for Barnum was installed pending meter activation, and roofing and decking work are under way at both sites.
Budget and change items: Project staff reported owners’ contingency and allowance balances and summarized several pending change items. At Barnum a contractor submitted a PCO to address additional contaminated soil removal in a site pile; the allowance for unresolved site issues has largely been exhausted and the PCO would draw the remaining allowance and use owner contingency for the balance (a recommended amount was discussed with committee chairs). Committee representatives asked for the recommended change order to be presented formally for approval at the next short meeting so invoices and PCOs can be processed.
Masonry supply issue: The design/construction team reported a kiln malfunction at the brick plant that produced a Cherokee red blend specified for portions of the Barnum facade. The vendor and mason are seeking comparable brick stock to maintain the planned color blends (the project uses blends of red and an iron‑spot darker brick for facade articulation). The team said they are looking for comparable substitutes and do not yet expect the issue to change the overall project completion date, but they warned that veneer work could be delayed regionally until a substitute or alternative production is secured.
Administration and next steps: The construction manager provided project RFIs, submittal and bulletin counts and said the workload is tapering as more submittals are complete. The committee also discussed FF&E and IT procurement schedules and planned an interim virtual meeting (Teams/Zoom) to approve invoices, the minutes, and pending change orders so that progress payments and PCOs are not delayed. The committee chairs and staff indicated they will circulate PCO backup and recommended approvals ahead of that meeting.
