Medford committee hears HVAC and ADA roof update; approves $2 million FY27 capital request to send to mayor and council

Medford — The Medford School Committee on Dec. 15 received a detailed update on the McGlynn and Andrews HVAC and roof electrification project and voted to approve a $2 million capital request for fiscal year 2027 to send to the mayor and city council.

Tom Ellis, a project representative with the construction management team, told the committee the work focuses on replacing major HVAC components and bringing the two schools into compliance with newly triggered ADA requirements. "When the project's done, most of the ADA items that were identified will be completed," Ellis said. He said the city executed a Guaranteed Maximum Price contract for $22,800,000 and that the project is roughly 45% bought out and about 45% complete.

Ellis and Ken Lord, Medford’s chief operations officer, said the team has encountered procurement and bidding challenges that required rebidding some scopes, including a liquid-applied roof alternate that came in substantially higher than estimated. Ellis said the project has protected contingency allowances within the GMP and that the…