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North Berwick OKs $376,207 design contract with Port City for new fire and rescue station
Summary
The Select Board authorized a $376,207 contract with Port City Architecture for programming, design, engineering and construction administration of a new phased fire/rescue facility, approving a project estimated at roughly $4.7 million in hard and soft costs and targeting a spring 2027 construction start.
The North Berwick Select Board voted May 19 to award Port City Architecture a $376,207 contract to design and administer a new fire and rescue station, part of a project with total estimated construction hard costs near $4.346 million and overall construction and architectural costs of about $4.72 million.
Dwayne Morin presented a line-item estimate showing permitting, survey and geotechnical work, construction of an 11,000-square-foot metal building, and renovation of the existing 2,529-square-foot facility. Morin said the project is phased so rescue operations can continue in the current building while work proceeds on a new rear building.
The contract amount approved covers programming, design, engineering and construction administration; reimbursable expenses and a modest contingency were included in the town’s packet. Selectperson Jonathan Hall moved to enter the contract and Selectperson Wendy Cowan seconded; the board approved the motion 5-0.
Morin said the current schedule envisions permitting by the architect in November 2026, bidding and a guaranteed maximum price in winter 2027, and a construction start in spring 2027 with an estimated 18-month build that could complete in late winter or early spring 2029.
Board members discussed options to reduce costs, including performing landscaping in-house after construction, and noted the town is waiting on grant paperwork from Sen. Collins’ office that could offset portions of the project. Morin said he left contingency and soft-cost balances to cover unexpected items.
The board also authorized staff to issue a Request for Qualifications for construction managers to local firms and set a tentative schedule for questions, submittals, interviews and selection.
The contract approval is a formal authorization to proceed with Port City as the architect of record; subsequent construction-manager selection and the GMP must still be finalized before work begins.
