Cornwall‑Lebanon board awards construction contracts for Cedar Crest stadium and high school renovations

The Cornwall‑Lebanon School District Board of School Directors on April 7 approved low‑bid construction awards for the Cedar Crest Earl Bolt Stadium improvements and the Cedar Crest High School renovation, district staff said at a public work session.

The board voted to award the stadium general construction contract to NCI Construction Limited for a base bid of $3,872,000 and selected Mako Mechanical for plumbing ($794,000) and mechanical ($844,000) base contracts, with McCarty and Son awarded the electrical contract ($3,747,544 including selected electrical alternates). District staff presented an overall stadium project total, including soft costs and equipment, of $11,840,998.

Board members then approved awards for the high school renovation, naming Lobar, Inc. as the general contractor at a base bid of $39,219,000 (including the listed alternate GC‑4a), JR Rentals Inc. for plumbing ($6,089,000), North Bay Mechanical LLC for mechanical ($19,100,000) and The Fairfield Company for electrical ($18,306,100 including listed electrical alternates EC3, EC9, EC11, EC14, EC15 and EC17). Site, roofing, fire protection and food‑service contractors were awarded to Iron Eagle Excavating ($2,597,500), Detweiler Roofing ($3,868,000), Alternative Fire Protection ($1,739,000) and 11400 LLC ($860,000), respectively. District staff presented a high‑school total project cost, including soft costs and equipment, of $106,767,825.

Superintendent Dr. Demensick summarized the rationale for selected alternates and a notable scope decision on stadium seating: the district recommended full replacement of the home‑side bleachers rather than a partial upgrade. "The concern is that by having these bleachers also with the other parts that we're doing made up to code, we would still have to spend money to modify them anyways," Demensick said, noting the existing supporting structure appears original and much of the surfacing dates to the 1995–96 renovations. He added the district expects the replacement bleachers to be wider, extend goal line to goal line and provide improved accessibility ramps.

Board members moved and seconded the two award motions. For the Earl Bolt Stadium facility improvement awards the chair called for a show of hands; the motion was approved 7 to 0. The high school renovation awards were approved 7 to 0 by a similar voice/hand vote.

Staff also presented related facilities items that will come back for formal approval next week: a small change order (Falcon Connector change order no. 8, $2,232 to change stair‑tread tile color), and recommendations to contract for testing and commissioning services to support the two projects. The district recommended Earth Engineering Inc. for testing and special inspections ($74,990); SiteLogic for commissioning services ($201,092); and Eastern Air Balance for testing and balancing services ($138,760). These three service contracts were presented as recommendations to be approved at the board’s next regular meeting.

Project timing presented by staff calls for the stadium work to be completed in early August 2026 and a 36‑month timeline for the high‑school renovation. Staff emphasized soft‑cost estimates and contingencies are included in the totals and that final project costs could change as contracts and testing proceed.

Votes at a glance

- Cedar Crest Earl Bolt Stadium facility improvement awards: approved 7–0. Low bidders: NCI Construction Limited (GC) $3,872,000 base; Mako Mechanical (plumbing) $794,000; Mako Mechanical (mechanical) $844,000; McCarty and Son (electrical) $3,747,544 (base + EC5 & EC6). Total project (presented) $11,840,998 (includes soft costs/equipment). Motion text: "Make a motion to grant approval to award the following as the low responsible bidders meeting specifications for the Cedar Crest Earl Bolt Stadium facility improvement projects..." (mover/second not named in transcript). Recorded vote: yes 7, no 0.

- Cedar Crest High School renovation project awards: approved 7–0. Low bidders: Lobar, Inc. (GC) $39,219,000 (base + GC‑4a); JR Rentals Inc. (plumbing) $6,089,000; North Bay Mechanical LLC (mechanical) $19,100,000; The Fairfield Company (electrical) $18,306,100 (base + EC3, EC9, EC11, EC14, EC15, EC17); Iron Eagle Excavating (site) $2,597,500; Detweiler Roofing (roof) $3,868,000; Alternative Fire Protection (fire protection) $1,739,000; 11400 LLC (food service) $860,000. Total project (presented) $106,767,825 (includes soft costs/equipment). Motion text: "Make a motion to grant approval to award the following as the low responsible bidders meeting the specifications for the Cedar Crest High School renovation project..." (mover/second not named). Recorded vote: yes 7, no 0.

What the board said and what happens next

Demensick and district project staff said the board was taking the awards at a work session to accelerate contract execution and that the recommended testing/commissioning vendors and the small Falcon Connector change order will be on the consent/action agenda for the board’s next regular meeting. Staff noted contingencies remain in place and final contract documents will be completed with the awarded primes before construction begins.

Acknowledgments and interim steps

District staff thanked internal project managers and outside engineers for work on bidding and estimates; staff noted the detailed bid process spanned roughly 15 months of planning for the high‑school work and that alternates for items such as bleachers and gym floor were included to address long‑term lifecycle and code/accessibility needs.

Ending

The board’s awards mark the formal start of contracting for two major district construction efforts; staff said they will return Monday with the recommended testing and commissioning contracts and a small connector change order for formal approval.