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PMA update: $186M high‑school build on schedule; baseball‑field alternate priced at $2.54M, board to defer decision
Summary
PMA reported the Bristol Warren high‑school construction is progressing with $65M spent of a $186M budget; a baseball‑field alternate would now cost roughly $2,540,000 (up ~$347,000 from the bid). Perkins Eastman and PMA recommended deferring the change order decision until fall CIP/contingency review.
The Bristol Warren Regional School Committee heard a construction update on the new high school from PMA on Monday night, including progress photos, budget status and a recommendation to defer a costly baseball‑field change order.
"So total project budget's a $186,000,000 number," PMA project manager Nick told the committee and showed site photos and progress from curtain-wall framing to MEP rough‑ins. He said $65,000,000 has been billed to date and that the project's PAYGo reimbursement is capped at $18,400,000. Nick described scaffolding, insulation, and upcoming glass shipments that will help waterproof curtain walls.
PMA reviewed bid alternates the school building committee had assessed when the project went out to bid. Two alternates (football bleachers/concession stand and tennis‑court lights) were accepted at bid time. The baseball‑field alternate, originally priced at $2,193,000 in June 2025, would now cost about $2,540,000 if performed now — an increase of roughly $347,000, Nick said.
Perkins Eastman issued a memo recommending against accepting the baseball‑field change order at this time, citing summer work in existing schools and remaining unknowns once ceiling removals and roof work begin. "Perkins Eastman and PMA are in agreement that at this time, it's not worth pursuing this change order any further," Nick said.
Committee members probed options if the board declined the baseball‑field work now. PMA explained the footprint could be left as graded grass with plumbing/electrical provisions included so future construction remains possible without committing to turf and bleachers immediately. "So the other tool is now, so it just becomes a grass field," Nick said in response to a question from Mr. Donovan.
Several members emphasized risk management and contingency: the committee heard the current "exposure" figure shown in the presentation was roughly 33% (which included the baseball number), and PMA and the superintendent said they expected to have clearer contingency information after summer CIP work and by the fall budget/CIP meeting. Superintendent Riley told the public the district remains "on target, and under budget" for the moment.
The committee did not vote to accept the baseball‑field alternate. Chair members said the prudent step is to revisit the option at the next CIP/contingency review window (fall), when the district will have a better view of remaining contingency and summer project risk.
What happens next: administration and the project team will re‑examine contingency and project exposures over the summer and provide an updated recommendation to the committee at or before the fall CIP meeting.
Reported actions: no formal change order was approved; the committee accepted the recommendation to defer on the baseball‑field alternate and leave options open for future consideration.
