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MMSD reports schematic designs on budget; phase‑1 school projects moving to detailed design
Summary
District staff said schematic designs for phase‑1 referendum schools are complete and the project budget has been reconciled to the $507 million referendum authorization; detailed design work is underway and staff expect to move toward permitting and community review in the fall.
Scott Chiak, senior executive director of buildings and facilities, gave a multi‑site update on work stemming from the district’s building referendum. Chiak said the team completed schematic designs (SD) for the phase‑1 schools and reconciled design work to the referendum budget.
Chiak described the process used to reduce an early, higher estimate to the referendum‑authorized amount: staff, architects and construction managers reviewed wants and needs, examined mechanical/electrical/plumbing options, and adjusted scope and construction approaches. That iterative process narrowed the earlier planning estimate back to the referendum total of $507 million while preserving core program elements the schools requested.
Phase 1 schools named in the discussion include the sites shown in schematic images shared with the board: Shabazz, Sherman, Blackhawk and Gompers (site renderings were shown during the presentation). Staff said they had submitted schematic materials to the City urban design review and would continue engagement in the fall. Detailed design (DD) work for the phase‑1 schools is now underway; staff said construction documents will follow and that permitting steps are planned as the project progresses.
Chiak said early site work such as geotechnical analysis is already complete for several sites and that construction managers and environmental commissioning consultants have been engaged. He said the team expects to begin construction mobilization in the spring with a public groundbreaking planned for March (staff did not specify a year in the discussion). The board asked about timelines and sequencing; staff said phase‑2 planning (Cherokee, Tokyo/Orchard Ridge and others) will begin in September so work on subsequent schools proceeds without unnecessary gaps.
No final award or contract actions were taken; the presentation was an informational update.
