Architects present narrower cost gap between renovation and new-build; board weighs timing and reimbursement uncertainty

Design and owners'rep teams presented revised, reconciled cost estimates for the Weston middle-school facilities project at the board'of'education meeting on March 16, 2026, showing the gap between renovating the existing building and building a new one has narrowed.

Scott, representing Collier (the owner'representation team), and Kemp and Jem from SLAM (the design team) told the board the renovation scenario now totals roughly $121.7 million to $127.9 million while new construction is estimated at about $121.3 million to $127.5 million. Scott said those ranges reflect reconciled trade costs, a smaller design/estimating contingency and the removal of a previously included $3.5 million sustainable initiatives line.

The teams explained what changed: they used a slightly smaller gross-square-foot assumption for the renovation test fit, eliminated a duplicate design-estimating contingency that had been double-counted in earlier estimates and moved more uncertainty into trade-cost line items. "We found a few areas where we were able to sharpen our pencil a bit and hone in on the costs," Kemp said.

Why the totals are close: presenters warned that renovating an occupied, older building carries extra schedule-driven general conditions and…