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Board reviews schematic design, timeline and early cost estimate for new K–2 elementary
Summary
Shore Architects presented schematic design, site plan and a preliminary budget for a new K–2 elementary school; the district remains on schedule for early site work this fall and is pursuing value engineering to align the design with a $53.3 million budget.
New Albany-Plain Local Board of Education members heard an update April 28 on the schematic design, site layout and early cost estimate for the district’s planned K–2 elementary school.
The presentation by Shore Architects outlined a north-side parent drop-off, a bus/service drive tied to Swicker Woods Boulevard and a building with a two‑story north wing and a one‑story south wing sized to allow future expansion. The plan calls for about 34,541 square feet of new space and an initial budget target of roughly $53.3 million for the project team to work within.
The district and architects said the design preserves mature trees along the northern site edge, separates car and bus traffic with a gated service drive for buses and deliveries, and centers noisy activity spaces — gymnasium and dining — to the south. Interior programming includes approximately 52 classrooms, five self‑contained special‑education rooms, five intervention rooms and small-group flexible spaces; kindergarten classrooms are grouped in a dedicated wing.
Why it matters: The schematic stage sets major design decisions, determines long‑lead purchases and frames the guaranteed maximum price (GMP) the district will later vote on. Officials said timely decisions on site work and equipment orders can reduce cost escalation in a volatile construction market.
Design and cost details Shore Architects showed exterior massing with a two‑tone brick skin and metal accent panels around the dining/gym area. The team said brick became the more cost‑effective exterior option after recent estimating; metal panels and metal roofing carried higher tariff and supply costs in the current market. Architects proposed storefront window systems with operable awning vents that will visually match other district buildings.
Construction estimates presented to the board include a design contingency (about $968,000) and an escalation allowance (about $1.4 million) to reflect supply‑chain and market volatility. The construction manager’s last reconciliation put the project near the district’s program number, though the team reported remaining differences of about $223,000 after the latest round of value engineering. The construction manager also identified roughly $1.6 million of value‑engineering items that the team has accepted.
Site and schedule Board and staff discussed a bus depot concept that would centralize buses for the new school and the existing early learning center, requiring curb cuts and coordination with the city on a planned signal at Boater Road and Swicker Woods Boulevard. The architects said some site stormwater detention is likely to be underground; engineers are reviewing alternatives because underground chambers were quoted at roughly $2.4 million in the current estimate.
District staff said an early site package and early materials orders (notably mechanical equipment with long lead times) are likely to be pursued so site work and certain purchases can begin while design development finishes. The district expects to start early earthwork in September or the first week of October and aims for a first full GMP in the December–January timeframe, with construction staged to allow summer 2026 and later schedule milestones.
Board questions and next steps Board members asked about cafeteria capacity, ability to expand the second floor later, exterior materials and natural light. Architects said the dining plan and a staggered lunch schedule can accommodate projected growth and that the south wing is designed for future vertical expansion. The team will refine stormwater solutions, continue coordination with the city on access/easements, complete ARB (architectural review board) comments and finalize the next estimate during design development.
The presentation and preliminary numbers will return to the board in a subsequent meeting for a design‑development reconciliation and potential early‑work authorizations; a formal vote on the GMP is expected after further reconciliation and when the construction manager submits the guaranteed maximum price.
Ending: The district’s project team asked the board to hold further value‑engineering decisions for items that would materially change building quality; architects said the goal is to keep the finished school consistent with the district’s existing standards while aligning cost to the program budget.
