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Worcester County commissioners authorize replacement plan for Berlin Intermediate School, vote 6–1
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Summary
After a feasibility study comparing renovation, addition and replacement, commissioners approved a recommendation to replace Berlin Intermediate School (option C), citing shorter construction time and lower total project cost when phasing and portables are considered. The board authorized submission to the Interagency Commission on School Construction.
The Worcester County Commissioners voted to approve a feasibility study recommendation to replace Berlin Intermediate School and authorized staff to submit the study to the Interagency Commission on School Construction for approval.
The recommendation, presented by school and consultant teams, compared three options: a full renovation within the existing 101,000-square-foot building; a renovation with an addition; and a complete replacement on the existing site. The consultant said replacement (option C) would take about 28 months to construct with minimal disruption to students, compared with a phased renovation lasting about 42 months that would require 12–15 portables and carry higher contingency costs.
“Option C is the winner in this category as well,” the Becker Morgan consultant said, noting the replacement better meets program adjacencies, reduces construction duration and avoids the long-term disruption of phased occupied work. The consultant presented an estimate of just under $85,000,000 for the total project and a projected school opening in 2031, with schematic design scheduled to begin this summer and construction phasing to start in March 2029.
Commissioners asked several practical questions about community-use space, geothermal systems and site layout. A county official explained that the project’s memorandum of understanding includes a required 3,000 square feet of cooperative use space that can be configured for wraparound services such as on-site mental-health providers and auxiliary health/gym spaces to serve students and community partners.
On geothermal, commissioners raised concerns about local groundwater iron content and equipment longevity. A project presenter clarified the plan uses a closed-loop geothermal system circulating glycol through buried loops rather than drawing groundwater, and said lifecycle and water-quality assessments required during design will factor local conditions into equipment selection.
Board members also noted the proposed rebuilt school would be slightly smaller than the existing structure: the MOU sets the replacement at about 94,220 square feet, down from the current 101,000 square feet, which project staff said reflects more efficient, modern design.
The motion to approve the feasibility study and authorize the IAC submission carried 6–1. Next steps are finalizing the feasibility report for IAC review, beginning schematic design this summer and moving into design development and construction documents if the IAC approves the submission.
The commissioners recorded the vote and authorized staff to proceed to the next state review step.
