Watchung Hills architects present $180 million long-range facilities plan, flag $45 million of priority needs

Spiesl Architects presented a long-range facilities assessment to the Watchung Hills Regional High School District board that lists about $180 million in total project costs and roughly $45 million in Priority 1 needs, the firm said during a board meeting.

The plan, presented by Justin Kozick, senior project manager with Spiesl Architects, and Steve Siegel, a principal who focuses on K–12 work, summarizes roughly five years of work, remaining building systems at or near end of life, and a menu of options for timing and funding—including the possibility of a referendum that could capture state debt-service aid estimated at 40% for eligible work.

Kozick said the firm has documented about $21 million in district projects completed over the past five years and then mapped outstanding needs into categories: program needs (classroom reconfigurations and furniture), site features (athletic fields, parking and pathways), building envelope (roofs, windows, EIFS cladding), interior finishes (doors, toilet rooms, science labs) and building systems (HVAC, electrical, plumbing).

Most urgent: HVAC and electrical. Kozick told the board that a large portion of mechanical equipment was installed at the same time and is approaching the end of useful life; he estimated $45…