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Pawtucket committee hears high school construction update; site work slated to resume in April
Summary
The Pawtucket School Committee was told March 10 that the new high school project has reached about 60% of its construction-document phase, city planning approval was secured Feb. 18, and organizers expect field work to resume in early April; members also approved several early-release trade packages to lock in contractors and prices.
Megan, a building committee presenter, told the Pawtucket School Committee on March 10 that the high school project is "tracking towards the completion of 60% construction documents," and that the team is meeting with contractors to lock in costs and stay on budget.
The update said the project has purchased about 60% of the work through an "early-release package" process and that the city planning approval — required because the project was deemed a major land development — was issued Feb. 18. Staff said coordination is ongoing with the Department of Environmental Management and the Department of Public Works, and a RIDE check-in is scheduled for the week after the meeting. The presenter said the warmer weather has started to melt snow and that the team expects to resume field work in early April.
Why it matters: the committee is moving design to a 100% construction-document package in May and is buying key trade packages while the design is still being finalized to reduce the risk of later cost increases. The schedule and buy-out strategy will shape construction timing, equipment staging and future budget decisions.
Committee members asked practical questions about site conditions and use of heavy equipment on ground still recovering from winter. The presenter said the team had planned an April return to field work and that site conditions should allow heavy machinery on short notice when the thaw permits it. When members raised concerns about the scale and cost of an envisioned concession stand under the bleachers, the presenter said the base construction contract does not include that add-alternate and that add-alternates would be considered depending on available funds; if the concession stand is unaffordable, the alternative would be to route visiting spectators to interior restrooms with controlled access.
The update included several technical notes about the building systems. Committee members emphasized the need for careful commissioning and post-occupancy tuning for HVAC systems in particular, citing past problems in older buildings; presenters described the rooftop direct-exchange and displacement-air strategy planned for the high school and said targeted VRF split systems will serve heat-intensive ancillary spaces.
What comes next: staff said they expect to complete 100% construction documents in May, continue coordination meetings through the spring, and produce more visual progress materials (photos and time-lapse) as field work resumes. Larger decisions about nonessential add-on items, such as an expanded concession stand, were left for future budget discussions and could be deferred until later phases of construction or decided when additional funding is available.
The committee's construction update ran alongside votes the committee took that evening to approve multiple trade packages that will allow construction work to proceed as planned.
