Rock Ridge board approves $2.8M design-development estimate, advances special-education remodel to construction documents

The Rock Ridge Public Schools board unanimously approved moving the design-development (DD) package for the Building 1404 special-education remodel into the construction-document phase, following a presentation that pegged the DD estimate at $2,800,000.

Presenter Peter summarized the plan and key numbers: the DD estimate shows about $2.3 million in hard construction costs and just under $500,000 in soft costs (design, testing, commissioning and owner-provided items). He said the SD-to-DD cost increase was roughly $260,000, driven primarily by defined low-voltage and access-control requirements.

Peter described the program layout as two adjacent but secured program areas (Setting 4 and Bridge To Independence) with separate entrances, life-skills and sensory rooms, and an assisted lift planned for one bathroom. He also described two add alternates for bidding: replacement of some outdoor air-handling units and assistive-listening systems in four classrooms. “Right now our DD estimate is showing 2,800,000.0,” he told the board, and added that alternates provide cost flexibility at bid time.

On schedule, Peter said that if the board approved the DD package, the district would receive construction documents in August, put the project out to bid in September, return bid results on Oct. 13 for board approval and begin construction around Oct. 27 with an estimated four-month duration, concluding in February.

A motion to advance the DD package into construction documents (mover recorded as Reardon; second as Bohn) passed by voice vote; the chair declared the motion passed unanimously.