Norwood middle school near move-in; demolition, gym-floor replacement and turf work outlined

Project staff told the Town of Norwood Middle School Building Committee on June 9 that interior finishes and systems are largely complete but that the project missed its previously scheduled date for substantial completion. Furniture installation was reported at about 90% complete on several floors, and building systems including network, wireless access points, the distributed antenna system (DAS) and access controls were described as finished or nearing completion.

Move-out and demolition schedule

Staff said the move-out from the existing middle school remains scheduled for the last day of school, June 19, with site takeover and fence installation by contractor W T Rich immediately afterward. Basement demolition and abatement were slated to begin days after the move-out. The town intends to complete demolition work before students return in August where practical, with heavy demolition expected a couple of weeks after abatement begins.

For the demolition phase, staff said an extra-tall fence will be erected near the generator and that the demolition and abatement contractor (identified in the meeting as American Demolition) will implement dust-control measures and hosing as needed. Staff also said the town’s pest-control vendor (identified as All Star) is engaged for pre-demolition work and will remain on the site for the next phase; staff committed to provide the committee with the pest-control plan and the site logistics plan.

Gym floor replacement and contractor claim

On the gym floor, the town directed W T Rich and subcontractors to replace a portion of the floor to the extent recommended by the town’s expert. The flooring subcontractor FJ Roberts was reported to owe the town a written plan this week that will include a schedule of activities. Staff said two independent opinions (the town’s expert and AI3) concurred on the recommended limits of replacement. The town’s current schedule projects this gym-floor replacement work to be completed in mid-August to meet the building opening in September.

Staff acknowledged that FJ Roberts may assert contractual claims for additional compensation or reserve legal rights; if a claim is filed, staff said the town will follow contract remedies and dispute resolution procedures.

Site and field work timing

Staff said the turf field installation is scheduled for October. The committee also heard an update on the “Indian walking path,” for which the planning comments are being incorporated and which staff expects to return as a revised design option to the committee in July or August. Because of potential impacts to the playing surface, staff said that work could be pushed until after football season and into the winter or spring construction window.

Outdoor play area

A preliminary sketch for an outdoor play/soft-surface area was turned into a formal request for pricing; WT Rich provided a rough order of magnitude of about $250,000 for the scope sketched at the meeting. Staff said subcontractors are reviewing pricing and the town will return with formal costs for approval; the work would not be completed by the September school opening if priced as sketched.

Next steps and community notifications

Staff said they will share the full logistics plan, additional schedules and the FJ Roberts floor-replacement timeline with the committee when they are received. The committee asked staff to post signage and provide pathways around temporary closures (Southern Washington Street entrance work was described as a two-week closure for sidewalk and utility work).