Consultants tell Western Boone board aging boilers, rooftop units and roofs need staged replacements

Consultants who conducted a districtwide facility condition study told the Western Boone school board on June 8 that several major mechanical systems and roof sections at Granville Wells and the junior–senior high school are at or near the end of their expected lives and should be addressed through a staged capital program.

"We were hired to evaluate existing conditions," said Michael, a Primary Engineering consultant, who walked board members through a condensed set of findings. He said many classrooms are served by rooftop HVAC units and mezzanine air handlers that approach the industry life expectancy of roughly 30 years and that the district’s high‑school boilers have "pretty much hit the life expectancy" and merit a new boiler plant. The consultants also recommended eventual chill‑plant replacement and structural review if rooftop equipment is considered.

The study flagged interior reprogramming opportunities at Granville Wells — such as underused office space and a small stage — and identified maintenance‑challenging courtyards and restrooms that appear noncompliant with current ADA expectations. Consultants noted many roof sections date to about 2009 and have warranty periods that are expiring, making the near term an appropriate time to plan replacements.

The presentation included a draft site plan that showed potential turf fields for baseball and softball, bus‑parking improvements and a possible relocation site for the transportation facility south of the administration building. Consultants also pointed to program needs such as CTE, band/choir and cafeteria acoustic upgrades as items to consider when aligning scope with mechanical work.

Stacy, who explained how to use the cost‑estimate tool, urged the board to identify a short list of highest priorities and to treat the provided figures as order‑of‑magnitude 2027 baselines that will require inflation and soft‑cost adjustments during design.

Board members asked whether consultants found any surprises. The answer was largely that the facilities are "very well maintained," but that the high school’s reliance on electric resistance heat is unusual for a building of its size and presents both operational cost and modernization opportunities.

No formal vote was required for the study presentation; the board accepted the report and the cost tool for its planning work and directed administration to use the materials to develop prioritized project recommendations and budgets.