School committee approves schematic design submission for district building project to RIDE

The Barrington School Committee voted May 6 to approve submission of the schematic design drawings and associated cost estimate for the district's multi-school construction program to the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE). The motion passed by voice vote with all members indicating "Aye."

The schematic package presented by Chris Spiegel, project executive with Left Field Project Management, and representatives from Tacton Architects and Shawmut Design and Construction showed the project remained within the district's budget targets at schematic design. Spiegel said the team's reconciled cost estimates put hard construction costs at about $208,000,000 and soft costs at about $42,000,000, with contingencies for escalation, a guaranteed-maximum-price allowance and phasing and logistics built into the figure. "We are currently within 2.5% of our project budget," Spiegel told the committee, adding the team had identified further value-management opportunities that had not required cuts to educational spaces.

The submission represents the end of RIDE Stage 3 schematic design and the next step toward design development, construction documentation and eventual bidding. Spiegel and the design team emphasized that no educational program spaces had been removed from the plans during the value-management work, and that the memorandum of agreement with RIDE sets reimbursement and budget rules the team must follow. He said the team had held more than 70 stakeholder meetings and had begun required consultations with authorities having jurisdiction, including the governor's commission on disabilities, the Rhode Island Historical Preservation & Heritage Commission, and local police and fire departments.

School committee members asked about schedule and potential cost pressures including tariffs on imported materials. Spiegel and a Left Field cost representative explained the project team used multiple independent estimators and a preconstruction manager to reconcile pricing and to include contingency lines that protect scope at later procurement stages. "It is much easier for us to add something back into the project at a later date than take it out on bid day," Spiegel said.

The committee's approval tonight authorizes district staff to submit the schematic design set and cost estimate to RIDE for its review. Committee members and the presenters noted that the state review constitutes one of several checkpoints before the district may move into final design and construction. The designers said the current milestone schedule aims for a 2026 construction start.

Committee members and the design team said the district will continue public engagement as the project advances, and the school building committee will review any major program changes that could affect educational spaces or budget allocations. "Any major program issue will be brought to the school committee to be approved," a Left Field representative said.

Votes at a glance: Motion to approve submission of schematic design documents to the Rhode Island Department of Education — passed by voice vote (all in favor).