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Construction managers, architects give Westfield Board a detailed update on referendum projects
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Summary
At the April 14 Westfield Board of Education meeting, Legacy Construction Management and FKA Architects presented progress on referendum-funded additions and renovations across nine schools, flagged long-lead electrical equipment as a critical path item, and outlined summer bid packages and safety protocols ahead of construction.
At a public meeting on April 14, the Westfield Board of Education heard a comprehensive update from Legacy Construction Management and FKA Architects on the district's referendum-funded renovation and addition projects.
The presentation, led by Brian Mead of Legacy and architects from FKA, described the program and the construction-management roles: Legacy will act as the board's on-site representative during construction, overseeing schedules, budgets, contractor performance and safety measures, while FKA leads design, document preparation and Department of Education submissions. "My name is Brian Mead, and I'm one of the principals of Legacy Construction Management," Mead said, adding that Legacy will be "your dedicated advocate looking out for the best interest of the Board of Education" throughout preconstruction and construction.
Why it matters: the referendum drives a broad multi-school program that the presenters said is structured around a full-day kindergarten schedule. The project team described McKinley as the most advanced (about 60% through construction documents) and other kindergarten projects at roughly 30%.
The consultants said several summer bid packages have already been issued for site work, restrooms, media centers and HVAC relocation, and that a kickoff meeting with awarded electrical contractors took place the same week. FKA's principal noted why the team started early on electrical work: "We put this out early because of the industry lead times on the electrical equipment," the architect said, pointing to transformers and switchgear as items with long lead times. Legacy confirmed liaison work with the utility and that a high-school transformer has an estimated 12-month lead time but that the schedule allows for installation next summer.
Presenters walked the board through school-specific designs. At Franklin Elementary they proposed a courtyard addition and a new drive loop to improve arrival circulation while respecting the building's 1929 Colonial Revival architecture. Jefferson's plan includes a classroom wing with skylights and a multipurpose room sized for elementary athletics; McKinley's three-story addition will provide a defined main entrance and administration space. Designers emphasized accessibility, energy-efficient systems and durable, low-maintenance materials.
On safety and site logistics, Legacy emphasized contractor background checks, badge controls, fenced construction zones, daily sign-ins and on-site project managers. "We will have project managers on-site throughout construction overseeing the work by the contractors and making sure that everything's done in compliance with the plans and specifications," a Legacy representative said.
Board members asked detailed follow-up questions about accessible parking counts and routes. "I was wondering if you have a sense at this point about handicap spots... and proximity to accessible egress," one board member asked. Architects replied that accessible routes are shown in DOE plans and that the team would compile specific quantities and send them to the board.
Budget and procurement items addressed included one defective low bid for Franklin's main entry; the board was told that the contract will be rejected and rebid (advertising to open April 28) to keep the schedule on track. The presenters reported that the first bid packages have come in under the established budgets, with the exception of the defective Franklin low bid.
What's next: the team said site work and certain summer projects are slated to finish before the school year begins, electrical installation will continue into the following summer, and additions and larger renovations will follow a staged schedule to avoid overwhelming district operations. The project teams will continue DOE submissions, local permit reviews and biweekly coordination meetings with the district.
The presentation and the slide materials will be posted on the district website for public review. The board is awaiting additional bid results and detailed accessibility counts to be provided by the project team.
