OPM says redesign and value management cut school construction costs but $4.6 million gap remains

Project oversight staff reported that a site redesign and value-management moves have reduced but not eliminated a funding shortfall on the school construction project.

Scott, identified in the meeting as the OPM project manager, told attendees the project is "approximately 58% complete from a billable perspective," and summarized change requests approved over the summer. He said a group of owner-requested ATPs and a change-order review group have been processing items while work continued.

Architect and site representatives described a redesign (bulletin 24) that regrades the site to avoid large cuts, keep an existing access road in front of the new building and reduce soil handling. Ted Tolis of SLAM said Gilbane priced the redesign and that contract-drawing savings were about $425,000, and Alita and others estimated another roughly $600,000 of reduced allowances — putting the first-phase attributable savings at about $1 million. "We're looking at about a million attributable to it for the first phase," Ted said.

Despite the savings, presenters said a remaining funding gap of roughly $4.6 million must be addressed to complete the project as designed. The team clarified that the $4.6 million shortfall refers to completion to a full certificate of occupancy, not only the temporary certificate of occupancy. "We need the money by December 1st" to hold current pricing and avoid repricing, a presenter said, noting the committee planned additional meetings in November to finalize awards.

Project staff walked the committee through other budget items and recent ATPs. Scott described several ATP exceptions approved over the summer: ATP 72 (a shunt-trip module requested by the authority having jurisdiction/fire department to allow shutoff of everything but the fire pump), ATP 78 (a transfer of scope from landscape to the site contractor because of timing), and ATP 83 (brick veneer and a precast cap paid across two contracts, roughly $20,000). The group also discussed ATP 84, deciding to install a new kitchen hood rather than relocate the existing hood because reuse risked interrupting kitchen operations.

Construction progress photos and a site update showed demolition of the old gym is complete, brickwork and window installation are underway, interior framing is progressing and some temporary utilities are in place. Presenters said permanent power is scheduled to be cut over the weekend of Sept. 22 and that the new and existing schools will run on the new feed; they cautioned the cutover could involve 36–48 hours of disruption for the site during the event.

On procurement and logistics, team members said furniture bid documents are expected to go out in mid-October, with bids likely leveled by early December. The group expects staged furniture moves to begin the first week of May, with the third floor the first area to be supplied; presenters estimated a four- to five-week effort to install and punch-list furniture on that floor.

The committee handled action items at the meeting. Becky moved to approve ATP 82 (bulletin 27) for electrical upgrades for $647 (motion seconded by Mr. Rochelle); the motion passed unanimously. A motion to approve ATP 88 (RFI 317) to install branch feeders for future display-case lighting for $3,079 was seconded by Mr. Gomes and also passed unanimously.

After the formal agenda, Mr. Rice pressed for detail on additional excavation performed during gym demolition. Scott said soil testing around the gym perimeter found areas that exceeded desired limits, so additional excavation and isolation of suspect material were performed; the material is being held on the soil stockpile, covered and segregated, pending environmental testing and disposition. Scott said the team may either return acceptable material to the stockpile or dispose of it off site as recommended by the environmental engineer.

The meeting closed with a motion to adjourn; participants were invited to remain for follow-up questions and refreshments. The committee emphasized the Dec. 1 deadline to preserve current pricing and indicated further meetings would be scheduled in November to finalize phase-two contracts.