Facilities committee: HVAC work on several schools progressing, Norwalk High needs $20 million more; solar, asbestos and ADA plans discussed

The Norwalk Board of Education Facilities Committee on Wednesday received progress reports on six school HVAC projects, construction at Norwalk High School and a cluster of planned capital requests, and heard updates on solar installations and asbestos and accessibility work slated for next summer.

Alan Lowe, a facilities staff member, told the committee that boiler replacements at Silvermine School and Rowan School are operational but that crews are still resolving control and tie-in issues. “The boilers are operational,” Lowe said, adding that technicians are addressing temperature-control and connections to some older equipment.

Lowe said Silvermine will also receive air conditioning in the gym; crews expect the gym cooling system to be installed by the end of this year and full school air-conditioning work to occur next summer. He said some second‑shift work may be required to avoid disrupting school programs.

The committee heard that work at other sites is at varying stages. Lowe said one project (identified in the meeting as “NAOMIC school”) is progressing slowly and most work will occur next summer. At Brookside School, rooftop units have been installed but crews are troubleshooting ductwork, controls and replacement parts for some newly delivered equipment. Lowe said the rooftop work should be completed before year’s end.

At Brien McMahon High School, crews removed two underground oil tanks and identified minor contamination that will require removal of about one truckload of soil and installation of a monitoring well. Lowe said a new chiller is scheduled for delivery in February or March and that officials are aiming to complete air-conditioning work before the next cooling season to avoid renting temporary equipment.

Lowe also said the district…