Needham SBC appoints Bond Building as construction manager at‑risk, awards $150,000 schematic design contract

At a joint March 9 meeting the Needham School Building Committee (SBC) accepted the CMR selection committee's recommendation and voted to appoint Bond Building Construction Inc. as the construction manager at‑risk for the middle school reconstruction, awarding a $150,000 contract for the schematic design phase.

A CMR selection presentation reviewed prequalification materials and three shortlisted proposals. The selection subcommittee described Bond Building as bringing strong MSBA experience, a cohesive team with prior key projects and jobsite technology that supports coordination. One committee member said the firm ‘‘brought in a model to sort of show exactly how they were going to propose moving forward on the project,’’ a point the committee cited as evidence of readiness to work on an occupied site.

Merrill reported the MSBA has approved advancement from the Preliminary School Report (PSR) to schematic design; the design team will incorporate MSBA feedback, including reducing ineligible elements (for example portions of theatre-related spaces) where possible. The committee discussed next steps: continued educator/user‑group meetings, refinement of square‑footage assumptions, site constraints flagged by the DRT (stormwater, utilities, fire access), and submission deadlines. Staff reiterated the MSBA schematic submission window and the target dates for local votes and town meeting discussions.

The SBC motion to appoint Bond Building and award the schematic design contract was seconded and approved by roll call. Committee members praised the selection process and emphasized the need to continue educator engagement and to refine budgets ahead of the June MSBA submission deadline.

The committee also approved $115,426.94 in invoices to HMFH and consultants for schematic design work during the meeting.