Architects present districtwide building-condition survey; district to prioritize projects May 13

Young and Wright, the architectural firm contracted by West Seneca Central School District, presented the results of a comprehensive five-year building condition survey (BCS) at the district’s April 22 work session and explained next steps for using the data to prioritize capital improvements.

The presentation, introduced by Superintendent Dr. Krueger, covered surveys of the district’s nine schools plus Winchester Academy, the transportation facility and the Ebenezer building. Alyssa Catlin, the firm’s BCS specialist, said the team recorded roughly 86 state-prescribed categories and about 40 additional categories the firm has developed to reflect modern school technology and program spaces.

The survey produces a searchable digital database that links photos, cost estimates, and scanned as-built drawings for each campus. “Instead of having to go to the basement and find a corner to find a drawing, you could click that building and within three seconds you’re in the drawings,” Catlin said during the presentation. The team also scanned building drawings and organized them into a digital library to speed future problem-solving and project planning.

Young and Wright told the board that entries are granular: larger buildings generated up to about 300 itemized entries (for example, separate entries for different-era roofs or boilers). The firm provides a labor-and-materials replacement estimate intended to be accurate for roughly the next seven years; the presenters advised districts to expect project costs to be higher after adding soft costs and contingencies—Catlin said a common planning multiplier is about 1.5 to move from the survey figure to a typical full project budget.

The firm highlighted districtwide common needs: mechanical equipment and generator upgrades, playground replacements at elementary schools, interior renovations (restrooms, cafeterias, science rooms), and pool maintenance at some secondary schools. They noted that fire alarm systems largely remain code-compliant but that current code changes (for example, requirements for voice annunciation) can show as recommended upgrades on a modern BCS.

Young and Wright also reported work done beyond a typical state submittal: the district procured roof scans and an air-conditioning feasibility study. The air-conditioning study examined what would be required to cool each room and what plant-level changes would be needed to support air conditioning across buildings. The presenters said including that study now improves access to state building aid for future projects.

Superintendent Dr. Krueger and board members discussed how the survey should feed the district’s capital planning. District staff will use the database and Young and Wright’s summaries to rank priorities and to combine ‘‘needs’’ (critical maintenance and code-driven items) with ‘‘wants’’ (instructional renovations aligned with the strategic plan). The presenters said the BCS was intentionally generous with replacement scopes and costs so the district has maximum flexibility when laying out future projects.

Next steps: the district scheduled a follow-up, longer review on May 13 to dive into each building’s records. Young and Wright will review both high schools with principals and head custodians first, then middle and elementary schools. The district will use those sessions and the facilities committee to refine priorities and to develop a multiyear capital timeline.

Board members also raised some site-specific concerns not fully captured in the BCS because of seasonal limits—principals had reported, for example, recurring drainage problems at the East Senior baseball diamonds that may not have been visible during the firm’s winter site visits. Presenters said the BCS team had relied on both site inspection and local staff knowledge to reduce blind spots and that the digital record will be a living document the district can update over time.

The presentation materials and searchable database will be turned over to the district for planning use. Young and Wright recommended integrating air-conditioning planning with near-term mechanical replacements rather than replacing HVAC equipment short-term and adding cooling later, noting a comprehensive approach tends to be the most efficient long-term.