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Board previews three options for Garland Corals Elementary; steering committee favors consolidated Early Learning Center
Summary
Architects presented three feasibility options for Garland Corals Elementary — heavy renovation with additions ($64M), new construction ($74M), or a campus with a consolidated Early Learning Center ($87M). The ELC concept drew strong support from the steering committee; the board will revisit the study in August.
Architects from BMDO presented a feasibility study to the Winchester Public School Board on June 8 that outlined three ways to address the needs of Garland Corals Elementary: (1) a maximum renovation with two additions, (2) an all-new school, or (3) a campus model that consolidates the city’s PreK programs into a single Early Learning Center (ELC).
Kelly Callahan of BMDO said the study is informational tonight and that the project team has engaged a steering committee, multiple user groups and the broader community. “We’ve developed three design concepts and gotten budget estimates from our cost estimators,” Callahan said, noting the team has completed a hazardous-materials evaluation and a building assessment that found structural issues, accessibility barriers and mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems that need replacement.
Rob Winstead, BMDO, described the three options and their tradeoffs. The renovation option would leverage existing assets and is the lowest estimated first cost at about $64 million, but it requires phased construction that would disrupt schooling, necessitate temporary classrooms and could uncover “unknown” surprises in older construction. The new-construction option — a three-story, approximately 132,000-square-foot school — was estimated at about $74 million and would minimize phased construction disruptions but would remove some existing community facilities such as the current gym.
The third option, described by BMDO as a campus with an Early Learning Center, would consolidate roughly 228 PreK seats on the Garland Corals site and keep the gym and cafeteria for community use while creating a separate K–5 elementary. That concept was presented at an estimated $87 million. Board discussion and the project team’s notes reflected that the steering committee leaned toward the ELC option for student benefits, operational continuity and district-wide program alignment.
Cost consultants (Downey and Scott) and CNTA engineers presented lifecycle and incentive analyses, including potential tax credits and energy systems (geothermal and solar). BMDO advised that renewable-energy systems were not included in the presented estimates but that federal incentives and a planned value-stacking analysis could materially affect lifecycle costs.
Board members asked about procedural next steps, neighborhood outreach and timeline. BMDO said a community stakeholder meeting is scheduled for Wednesday at 5:00 p.m. at Garland Corals; a community survey remains open through June 17; and the team will return in August to present a draft report and seek a board decision at the August 24 meeting that could be forwarded to city council.
The presentation was informational; no board action on the study was taken at the June 8 work session.
