Architects say middle–high construction documents near completion; FAA clears site, cost estimates within 2%

The Middletown School Building Committee heard an architects' update Thursday that put the project near the end of the construction-document phase and on track for bidding in March.

Justin, an architect with DBVW who filled in for the project team, told the committee the construction-document package was about 90% complete and that the team intended to tighten drawings and coordinate with consultants over roughly five weeks before packaging documents for a March bid period. "We are at the tail end of construction documents. That is about, 90% through, the document phase," Justin said.

The architect and project team also reported regulatory reviews and permitting were proceeding on schedule. Justin told the committee that the Federal Aviation Administration completed its review and determined the new building would not pose an aviation hazard, and that no obstruction markers would be required. Stormwater review by DEM and DOT review of the civil letter remain active and are expected to generate comments in late February.

The project team reported construction cost-estimating work from the construction manager and an independent estimator. The two estimates were reconciled within 2% after a reconciliation meeting on Jan. 23, the team said. Justin said final reconciled estimates were due back at the end of the week and that a limited value-management phase would follow, aimed at relatively small changes such as aesthetic items. "We were able to reconcile the two estimates within 2% of each other, which is a goal," he said.

On schedule, the architects reiterated the middle–high school construction timeline presented to the committee: construction through May 2027 with punch-list and demolition phases to follow and project closeout in 2028, with the school ready for the 2027–28 school year.

Budget figures presented to the committee showed the project working within the original $190,000,000 program. Project expenditures to date totaled just over $8,600,000 for design, project management and preconstruction; contracts awarded so far total about $23,100,000; and the team anticipates spending approximately $177,000,000 for construction (excluding contingencies), subject to change after GMP reconciliation. The team expects to set a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) in the late summer or early fall, with one presenter saying a GMP was anticipated in September.

The committee was also briefed on planning-board and RIDE (Rhode Island Department of Education) submission steps: a technical review committee meeting is targeted for the week of Feb. 10, a planning-board preliminary review is slated for late February, and the 60% RIDE submission for the middle–high school is scheduled for mid-February.

Committee members asked for civil and permitting materials to be made available in advance of the next meeting; the architects said they would provide electronic copies of the civil package for the roads-and-utilities subcommittee to review. The team said it would proceed with bid-document work and pivot during the bid phase if permits or reviewer comments require changes.

Ending: The architects said they would return with final reconciled estimates and a refined value-management list at the committee's next meeting. The project schedule and budget remain fluid until GMP and final reconciled numbers are set.