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Weston committee advances $2.4 million North House HVAC plan, aims for June start
Summary
District staff said a revised $2.4 million HVAC upgrade for North House is moving through design and procurement, with an RFP expected in early February and targeted installation beginning in June; the system’s phased design could allow partial occupancy while work continues.
The Weston School District’s Facilities Finance Operations Committee heard an update Jan. 16 on the North House HVAC project, where staff said design and procurement work is underway and the district hopes to start construction this June. Phil said the revised project cost is about $2,400,000 and that the board of finance unanimously approved initial funding; the board of selectmen also approved the project but procedural order may require the board of finance to revote in February.
Staff described an expedited timeline for issuing a design RFP, with drafts expected by Jan. 28–30 and a goal of posting the RFP in early February so engineering and equipment procurement can keep the project on track for June rather than pushing it to June 2027. “Our hope is to get this RFP issued and posted very, very early in February,” Mike said, adding the team is reviewing the design with legal counsel and Colliers to ensure specifications are correct.
Why it matters: the North House building requires a substantial HVAC overhaul, and equipment lead times and project sequencing will affect whether work can be confined to the summer break. Mike told the committee the chosen variable refrigerant flow system can be installed room-by-room, which would allow part of the two-floor building to reopen while work continues on the remainder.
On schedule and occupancy: the district expects the installation phase requires roughly 12 weeks — longer than the district’s typical eight- to nine-week summer break — so staff plan selective phasing and classroom moves to minimize disruption. Mike said: “So, yeah, with the way that it is, it’s not...rooftops, which is designed we didn’t wanna go with because of structural. Then it would have to be all or nothing, but the system that we’re dealing would be room by room.”
Financing: Phil said the board of finance will ultimately determine financing mechanisms (bond, town meeting approval, or other), and the team will return to that board once final costs are confirmed after the RFP. If a revote by the board of finance is required, Phil said it would occur in February and would not alter the current design timeline.
Next steps: staff will finalize RFP language, issue the RFP in early February, and bring final cost estimates to the board of finance for funding decisions. Committee members asked staff to coordinate communications with principals and families in advance of construction scheduling.
The committee set no new formal deadlines at the meeting; staff said they expect to provide further timing and communication plans once the RFP returns and final costs are known.
