Amherst board hears Phase 2 construction, schedule and budget update from Turner Construction

Turner Construction and design partner Young and Wright presented a Phase 2 capital-project update to the Amherst Central School District Board of Education at its meeting, reviewing work completed this summer, the schedule through 2026, and current budget figures.

The presentation covered work at multiple schools — Windermere, Smallwood, the middle school, the high school and the new turf complex — and explained why field conditions and scope enhancements have increased use of contingency and allowances against the $37,000,000 set of construction bids for Phase 2.

"I'm Madeline Murphy. I'm your project manager for Turner Construction," the presenter said as she introduced the team and outlined the scope and schedule. She said construction activity began in May and is expected to continue through November 2026 for elements of Phase 2, with specific turnovers scheduled earlier for some items (for example, a mid‑October turnover target for the renovated tennis/pickleball courts pending curing and weather).

Work completed this year, the team said, includes the Windermere UPK addition slab and steel, upgraded public‑address and clock systems, tennis/pickleball and gross‑motor play courts, IT room work and a modest parking expansion at Windermere. For Smallwood, the team reported PA and clock upgrades, new wing bathrooms and the start of a secure entry/main office renovation that is expected to finish in October. Middle‑school work this year focused on prework for a steam‑to‑hot‑water conversion and removing a gym divider; more extensive HVAC and auditorium work will follow in 2026. At the high school, the team reported masonry repointing, interior plaster repair and targeted roofing work pulled forward from a later phase to address water intrusion.

The turf complex progress and remaining scope drew extended attention. The contractor described below‑slab utilities, drainage installation, foundation work for lighting and scoreboards, and excavation to achieve required subgrade compaction. The team said progress through November will depend heavily on weather and noted work remaining on the concessions building, flat drains under the turf, fencing and scoreboard foundations.

On budget, the presenter said the Phase 2 construction bids sum to about $37,000,000, which includes approximately $400,000 of allowances. The presentation identified a project contingency set at roughly 7.5% of construction dollars (about $2.8 million) and showed an allocated contingency line of about $1,700,000 for items that are pending but not yet executed. The team reported an unallocated balance of a little over $1,000,000 and remaining allowances of about $300,000.

The presenter explained why contingency usage rose: field conditions at the turf site revealed unexpected drainage and required additional soil excavation, and a sanitary sewer line crossing the site required repair and relocation work. The Windermere courts required deeper reconstruction rather than a simple mill and overlay. The presenter also said roughly $700,000 of the contingency-like expenditures are project enhancements elected "to do it right once," such as perimeter fencing and lighting, added fiber, and some IT‑room storage and cooling provisions that aim to reduce future disruptions.

Total Phase 2 costs reported in the presentation were about $48.08 million; the combined Phase 1 and Phase 2 total remained at about $61 million, and the district’s remaining balance from the referendum to apply to Phase 3 was stated as about $7.5 million. The presentation noted the original Phase 3 estimate in 2022 had been as high as $20 million but that current inflation and market conditions mean the original Phase 3 scope would no longer be fully affordable with today’s prices.

During questions, board members asked about contracting approach (the presenter confirmed the contracts are lump‑sum public contracts rather than guaranteed‑maximum‑price at risk) and about bidder participation; the presenter said some packages had multiple bidders while some had a single bidder and that Turner assists the district in bidding but the district holds the contracts. The team said it will deliver a 45%‑design cost estimate for the high‑school heating system to the Amherst administration later in the week and then bring that estimate to the capital committee for review.

Board members and the presenter framed the high‑school heating system as the likely top priority for Phase 3 funding; they said the capital committee must consider the 45% estimate to determine next steps and whether additional community authorization will be needed to complete the original Phase 3 scope.

The presentation concluded with the district capital committee scheduled to review updated estimates and with the contractor noting there is more design and procurement work to come.

Next steps recorded in the meeting: Turner will provide the 45% design estimate for the high‑school heating work to the Amherst administration and the capital committee will reconvene to assess Phase 3 priorities and funding needs.