Gonzales officials hear progress report on Teen Innovation Center construction

The Gonzales City Council on Jan. 21 heard a status update on the Teen Innovation Center construction project from the city’s construction manager and the contractor, who said the building should be weather‑tight by mid‑February and substantially complete by mid‑November.

City construction manager Luis Flores, representing the city, told the council that recent on‑site work includes underground utilities, storm sewer and water, TPO roofing installation, and interior drywall and framing. “We’re looking to get our building weather tight, so we'll have it fully enclosed by mid‑February,” Flores said. He said the team remains “on track for substantial completion by mid‑November.”

Flores gave detailed project metrics and document counts to illustrate progress and oversight. He said the project has held 31 coordination meetings, the team has reviewed 21 potential change orders (PCOs), processed about 86 requests for information (RFIs) and 232 submittals, and received 17 pay applications to date. He said staff are tracking grant and private funding, including USDA funding, and produce the reports required by each funding source.

Ron, the contractor’s senior project manager, described recent on‑site milestones: roofing material lifts by crane, HVAC installation, paving of the parking lot and drive aisles, and interior mechanical and electrical rough‑ins. Photographs shown to the council included courtyard and west elevation views, framing and ductwork, and temporary scaffolding as the team prepared for windows and finish work.

Flores and the contractor described community engagement as part of the work. The Gonzales Youth Center (GYC) participated in site visits and a furniture “sit test” so youth could evaluate chairs and other furnishings; Flores said the design team will consider that feedback as finishes and furniture selections are finalized. He also said the project team is coordinating visits for local high‑school career‑education students and plans to arrange a public “dry‑in” site visit for council members, donors and the community in late February.

Schedule risks identified to council were primarily long‑lead equipment and supply chain items. Flores said the only current long‑lead item of concern is the electrical switchgear, which was ordered early and is estimated to arrive toward the end of July; otherwise, he said the procurement strategy has mitigated most supply‑chain risk. He said the team monitors financials and grant reporting and conducts weekly meetings among the city, contractor and design team.

Council members thanked staff and the contractor for the outreach to students and the frequency of updates; staff said the project will continue to appear in council packets monthly and that another formal presentation will follow in two months. No formal council action was taken on the update.

A community event to allow donors and community members to sign a wall and view progress is planned once the building is dry‑in, likely in late February. Flores said the project remains on the schedule presented to the council and that staff will notify the council when a specific date is set.

What’s next: the city will provide dates for the mid‑February dry‑in site visit, continue to track long‑lead items and supply‑chain risks, and include monthly progress reports in future council packets.