Board hears updated design and cost options for Los Altos gym; staff to bid add‑alternates
Loading...
Summary
Staff presented revised designs for Los Altos gym modernization, telling trustees that required ADA, structural, AV and fire-code work raises estimates from an $8M base to roughly $12.2M; a fuller package could reach about $15M. Board asked for separate bid alternates for a lobby expansion and for other add-ons.
District facilities staff and the design team returned to the board with a revised scope and cost estimate for the Los Altos High School gym modernization.
Staff said original scope items (bleacher replacement, accessible seating upgrades and basic modernization) were estimated at about $8 million. New requirements and desirable additions — a full audio-visual upgrade, findings from a floor forensics evaluation, subfloor and structural improvements driven by larger modern bleachers, and rerouting HVAC ductwork — push the current design-to-bid estimate to approximately $12.2 million. Factoring additional upgrades (lobby expansion, lighting, acoustics and other items) could bring the full scope toward $15 million.
Design staff explained tradeoffs the board must consider: modern ADA-compliant bleachers with aisles and wheelchair locations reduce passenger squeeze capacity but improve safety; increasing row height to reach roughly 1,212 seats triggers additional structural and fire-safety work (possible need for sprinklers or new exits) and could push the project past DSA (Division of State Architect) thresholds that require seismic improvements. A lower-cost option (retaining current row heights and limited new features) would reduce capacity to about 819 in some scenarios.
Trustees asked for clearer bid packaging. Several members supported directing the designer to prepare the full-scope construction documents while separating the lobby expansion as an ad-alternate so the board can compare bids and decide later. The board also discussed sequencing; staff intends to proceed with Mountain View gym work first and Los Altos the following year, subject to DSA review and bid results.
No final budget approval was required Monday. Staff said the district still has measure funds and state allocations to apply (cash on hand cited in presentation), but pointed to the need to prioritize add-alternates and return with firm bid numbers for board action.
What’s next: Staff will request bids with add-alternates, separate the lobby item as a distinct bid line, and return with cost comparisons and a recommendation for board approval.
