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State Construction Department updates: Mercer studies cut costs; several school projects advance to design
Summary
State Construction Department staff told the Select Committee that Mercer study results and additional district work reduced several project cost estimates and clarified the recommended remedies for multiple schools.
State Construction Department staff briefed the committee on project‑level outcomes and Mercer studies that reshaped several budget requests.
Jackson Hole High School: Director Del McCoy reminded members that the Mercer study and commission review had previously identified a construction‑only estimate of $21.8 million. The department is now requesting an additional $2,809,810 for design because the prior appropriation covered construction but did not include design fees. McCoy said the construction estimate includes a safety vestibule and CTE and cafeteria additions.
Moorcroft Junior High: Shelby Carlson reported Moorcroft’s 2023 facility condition index was 0.304. The building (37 years old) is in generally sound structural condition but requires system replacements (HVAC, plumbing, sanitary sewer) and gym work. The commission concluded the most cost‑effective remedy was targeted replacement work rather than combining programs with other schools.
East High (Cheyenne): The facility faces a capacity shortfall — the department cited a current 112.72% utilization and an 8‑year projection of 106.8%. The department recommended design funding only for an addition to add roughly 1,413 seats and associated cafeteria and CTE spaces; construction funding would be requested after design clarifies scope and cost (staff estimated next‑year construction in the $36–$38 million range depending on design).
Hobbs Elementary: Hobbs is the state’s highest condition‑need elementary (0.464). The department recommended a full replacement on the existing site. The current request covers design, construction and demolition; abatement costs were deferred to the design phase because abatement estimates vary widely by building.
Fremont 25 / Rendezvous (Riverton): The department summarized a decade‑long, phased effort to downsize the district from four to three elementary schools. The result of the Mercer was to build a right‑sized new Rendezvous Elementary on the shared parcel (Jackson and Rendezvous sit on the same site) and eventually demolish the old facility. The department paused some alternative‑school decisions pending federal decisions about a nearby Job Corps facility; those federal developments temporarily slowed alternatives planning.
Costs and timing: Director McCoy told the committee Mercers and additional data reduced previously reported construction/design totals by roughly $8.8 million across projects. Staff emphasized that early design authorization often reduces escalation costs and urged the committee to consider making limited design funds available immediately for time‑sensitive projects.
Quotes from the briefing: "That 21.8 does include the safety vestibule also in that overall price," Director Del McCoy said when reviewing the Jackson Hole High estimate. Shelby Carlson summarized Moorcroft’s condition: "This facility is 37 years old... a lot of the systems are coming due to replace, and they're expensive." Carlson also told the committee, "This is actually the highest condition need building in the state" when discussing Hobbs Elementary.
Committee action: The committee embedded prioritized project amounts in LSO0086 and approved the appropriations package. Members asked the department to return with abatement estimates after design progresses for the projects that deferred abatement to design.
