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Pilgrim soil contamination triggers public notice; Tollgate design development cleared to submit to RIDE
Summary
Design staff told the Warwick building committee that Pilgrim High School has a soil contamination finding under a 30-day public notice ending May 23 and that required remediation reports will be prepared; the committee also authorized Tollgate design-development submission to RIDE and reviewed renderings and circulation changes.
Left Field and construction staff told the Warwick building committee that testing at Pilgrim High School found soil contaminants that require formal regulatory review and a public process.
Left Field reported the project is in a 30-day public notice period that ends May 23 and that a public meeting is scheduled at Pilgrim High School to gather local history and input. The team said three reports must be prepared and approved by regulators before remedial work can begin: the site investigation work plan, the site investigation report (documenting testing findings) and a remedial action report.
Why it matters: The regulatory reviews could delay construction activities at Pilgrim until environmental approvals are received. The team said some contaminants identified include polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and arsenic, which staff described as commonly encountered in urban fill and soils.
What staff and designers told the committee: Left Field summarized probable sources (imported fill from field reconstruction, historic vehicle-related activities, and runoff), said the project team will expedite reporting and immediate submissions to RIDE and DEM, and emphasized outreach to neighbors. "We're right now in the 30-day public notice period that ends on the 23rd of May," Left Field stated. Project staff said they will submit required reports as soon as each approval step is complete to avoid lag between submittals.
Tollgate design and schedule: Separately, the committee approved a motion authorizing the immediate submission of the Tollgate design-development package to RIDE once RIDE confirms schematic-design closure. The design team presented updated bubble diagrams and renderings that show major changes driven by wetlands constraints and RIDE requests: a relocated bus loop, a pitched walkway connecting the main high school and the CTC building, expanded vestibules and a redesigned auditorium entry with a ramp. The team also discussed choosing composite metal-panel cladding in place of masonry above the roofline to improve constructability and schedule, and noted that the metal-panel option reduced overall project cost when schedule and shoring savings are considered.
Code and cost questions: Committee members asked about rated glazing and sprinklering for vertical light shafts in the design; engineers said two-hour-rated floor/glazing and sprinkler options are expensive and they are reviewing alternatives with the fire protection consultant. Staff also flagged that some design requests from RIDE added scope and asked the design team to quantify dollar impacts attributable to RIDE for future reporting to the committee.
What’s next: The Pilgrim team will hold the public meeting and submit the required investigation and remedial reports to regulators; any remedial activities will be scheduled only after agency approvals. For Tollgate, staff will submit design development to RIDE once the schematic closure is confirmed and will proceed with early-release site packages and interim GMP development where authorized.
