Dual-language school design advances; demolition package posted and bids due March 12

The design team updated the School Building Committee on the dual-language PreK–8 project, advancing the work into 60% construction documents and posting the demolition and abatement package for public bidding.

Julie and the design team said the stage 3 design development package has conditional approval and that the team is preparing responses to review comments for inclusion in the 60% construction documents. The demolition and abatement package was released earlier in the week and is posted on the Central Falls purchasing website; the presenter said roughly 30 entities had downloaded the package and that bids are due March 12.

The team described site circulation decisions informed by meetings with police and fire: a designated morning drop-off zone along the main approach, retention of the rear access road for emergency vehicles only, and an added corridor connecting the lower student commons to the gym to preserve playground access without routing students across the gym court. The design also includes two permanent playgrounds and an enlarged lower commons to meet dining capacity needs.

Capacity estimates based on proposed furnishings placed the lower student commons at a seating capacity of at least 110 students and the upper commons at approximately 102 students, which the presenters said would accommodate two grade levels dining simultaneously. The presenters described a main first-floor kitchen that will prepare meals to be carried to upper floors (via elevator) and a smaller servery with two serving stations on the upper levels.

The committee noted that environmental testing of the existing high school site prompted an environmental notification filing and that regulatory processes and a planning-board submission (expected Feb. 25) are pending. The presenter said the team expects to present updated cost estimates in March after demo-bid results are received and that schedule flexibility may push some submission dates into April to coordinate bids and cost estimating.

No formal committee vote was required for the design update; the committee requested continued updates as bids and regulatory responses are finalized.