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 temporary-work costs that can push the price close to a new build. "Renovation can take 39 months for phased work, versus 20 months for new construction," one presenter said, noting that longer schedules and temporary protections raise contractor general conditions.

The financial picture for Weston depends heavily on state reimbursement. The teams modeled district shares using the state'administered reimbursement rates the district expects to be relevant: roughly 22% for renovation and about 12'12.5% for new construction. Under those assumptions, the district's share in the renovation scenario was estimated at approximately $101.3 million to $106.4 million; under the new construction assumption, presenters estimated about $109.7 million to $115.3 million.

But presenters repeatedly underscored the state'driven uncertainty. Scott said the Office of Grants Administration will not review or discuss a project's reimbursement rate until a formal grant application is submitted; the team can later submit the architect'prepared renovation-economics form and request the higher renovation reimbursement, but the state'level determination typically arrives in the December after a June grant filing. "You really don't submit anything as far as a reimbursement rate. That's all determined by the state," Scott said.

Board members pressed for comparables and reasons the estimate approaches $1,000 per square foot. Kemp and Scott pointed to recent middle-school bids in the region (Greenwich, Stamford, Trumbull) that have trended in the $900+/sq ft range once escalation and site costs are included. They also noted site-specific factors—septic systems, ceiling-height limits and the need to place mechanical systems on roofs—that can add cost.

The board discussed program alternatives: adding 5th grade (estimated at 12,000'15,000 extra sq ft and roughly $12'$15 million in added construction cost and $9'$12 million net cost to the district) and whether to convert the Weston Intermediate School for preK'4 (past studies from 2018 and 2022 found such conversions constrained by wetlands, parking and play-area displacement and deemed them not viable).

Timing and referendum options led to the most pointed debate. The consultants presented three broad schedules: file a grant in June 2026 and hold a November 2026 referendum (tight timeline and an earlier promotion blackout if the referendum is set); delay filing and target a June 2027 grant while still holding a November 2026 referendum (gives more time to build public support but means carrying more design risk up front); or move the referendum later (e.g., April) with corresponding schedule shifts that would push opening later than fall 2030. The team recommended the middle option to allow additional community outreach and final budgeting.

Board members repeatedly flagged political and financial risk: one member warned the project may be "too expensive" for Weston''which has a limited commercial tax base'and urged careful outreach before a referendum. Another board member urged the board to write down a list of "what-ifs" and circulate those to the consultants for written responses.

Next steps: the firm outlined the items required to file a grant (three town resolutions: create a building committee, authorize the board to submit the grant and authorize schematic design; a phase-one site environmental assessment; a final EDS and a detailed estimate). The board scheduled additional public comment on March 23 and said it aims to vote on next steps by March 30.

The board did not take formal action on the project scope at the March 16 meeting; officials said the next weeks would determine whether the district files this June or delays to the following cycle while pursuing political outreach and state engagement.