Suffolk: auditorium and classrooms near turnover; AV and punch‑list work to continue into early 2026

Suffolk provided the School Building Committee with a slide update on Oct. 30 showing steady progress at the high school renovation and the schedule for remaining work.

Mister Regis, Suffolk representative, told the committee that Building C was turned over earlier and that the project team is currently working in Building A, “which is the auditorium in East Campus North portion of the classroom spaces.” He said phase 4 demolition and construction will begin in January and that phase 3 turnover is scheduled through December.

Regis described two new elevators included in the current turnover: a passenger elevator north of the auditorium and a service elevator by the auditorium stage. On the auditorium he said finishes including painting and coffered ceilings are complete and that chair installation and final floor finishes will occur over the next month. “Ready for use, we're saying March,” Regis said when asked when the auditorium would be available for events; he clarified that substantial construction activities are expected to finish in December, while balance‑of‑system work, primarily audio‑visual testing and programming, will extend into March.

Suffolk showed recent photos of corridors, classrooms and the main entry ramp and summarized the punch list. Phase 1 and 2 have four remaining items including stair tread replacement, a bleacher kick board replacement and flooring touch‑ups; the north wall of the cafeteria and other items belong to phase 3 punch lists. The contractor said the team had updated punch-list numbers since the previous meeting and is processing items for completion.

On workforce diversity, the contractor reported the project goal for minority workforce is 15.3% and the current figure is 26.9%; the female workforce goal is 6.9% with current hours at 5.9%; low‑residence workers were reported at 8.8%.

Committee members asked operational questions about teachers moving into new classrooms and logistics for furniture moves over the winter break. Staff said movers will be scheduled on the final day of school before break to transfer boxed materials and that access for teachers will be coordinated; if certificate of occupancy is in place before Jan. 5, staff said teachers may gain earlier access but that it is likely the day will be tight for unpacking materials. The committee discussed distributing orientation materials or a PDF packet explaining the new space.

Members also raised two site concerns: sidewalks poured in August that were rained on and will need re‑pouring (addressed by Suffolk as a QA/QC item to be scheduled next summer) and loose bike racks outside the high school, which Suffolk said it will inspect and repair as a punch‑list item.

Next steps identified by staff include a push to complete phase 3, removal of Jersey barriers and fences over the coming weeks, moving trucks to bring new furniture starting Nov. 17, and completion of flooring and cleaning with the basement trailing into December.

The committee had no vote on the construction presentation itself; the BRR and budget items were considered separately and voted later in the meeting.