NUPEC construction nearing completion; windows to be retested, furniture deliveries set for July

At a meeting, construction staff and project administrators updated participants that the new NUPEC school building is roughly seven weeks from "substantial completion," with furniture, fixtures and equipment (FF&E) and technology deliveries beginning the first week of July.

Chris, the construction administrator, said the contractor is winding down major work and "we're about 7 weeks away from substantial completion," while crews continue finish work inside and on site. He told the meeting the site is maintaining "100 to 120 people on-site on a daily basis" doing tasks from site work to finish paint and tile.

The update covered three main areas: construction progress, a window-testing and remediation effort, and the FF&E/technology delivery and move-in timeline. The construction update emphasized interior finish work (flooring, ceiling grid, lockers and gym floor installation), exterior paving and curbing, and above-ceiling inspections by engineering consultants to confirm installations before closing ceilings.

On windows, Chris said Pella has been on site to address failing windows and that installers found missing sealant during installation. "We've got 4 windows, 5 windows, I believe, slated for testing this coming Monday," he said, adding the team will follow with random testing to confirm repairs. He described the contract testing protocol that requires periodic checks and said the tests simulate aggressive conditions: they run four five-minute intervals and put "5 gallons a minute on these windows during these tests," to exaggerate possible issues and verify the install.

Councilor Mark asked whether the project team has a contingency plan if the windows continue to fail. Chris answered that Pella’s initial repairs have produced "positive results," and that the project team will wait for Monday’s tests before outlining further contingency steps or engaging additional contractors (Fontaine was named as another potential company to bring in if needed).

On FF&E and technology, Josh Latrell reported the project is "in very good shape" financially. Josh said the FF&E and technology budget is under by "over $200,000," and that purchase orders are being issued; Allison, the FF&E coordinator, will supervise vendor deliveries. Chris and other staff said deliveries will start July 1 and occur over the first two to three weeks of July. They described logistics: large tractor-trailers, protected elevators, manifests to place furniture in designated rooms, and a locked staging room for technology equipment prior to deployment and configuration by district IT staff.

The meeting laid out the move-in and opening timeline: administration move-in beginning August 11, teachers on August 13, a ribbon-cutting scheduled for Thursday, August 14 (rain date Friday, August 15) and the first day of school on August 25.

The update also noted coordination with neighbors around a waterline connection on Chapin Street and ongoing grading and sidewalk work on the north side facing Beach Street. Project inspections have not identified deficiencies to date, and staff said workmanship has been strong.

Discussion-only items included questions about whether any planned technology purchases had been deferred earlier in the project; staff said most requested technology items were procured and that recent districtwide device purchases reduced immediate needs.

Project staff asked to return with delivery manifests and more specific FF&E delivery dates at a subsequent meeting; no formal actions were taken on these construction items during the session.