Shaker Lane building committee approves $52,938 for seismic surveys and extra soil testing at geothermal field

The Shaker Lane School Building Committee voted to approve Amendment 11, authorizing Studio G to perform seismic refraction surveys and supplemental geo-environmental soil sampling at the project’s geothermal well field and the upper playing field for a not-to-exceed amount of $52,938.

Mary Lee, Studio G’s designer, told the committee the site investigation had identified bedrock close to the surface in areas planned for wells and for building foundations, and that further testing was needed so the team could estimate removal and disposal costs accurately. “The 100% DD estimate set that went out last Friday. That’s a huge milestone,” Mary Lee said, adding that the additional geotechnical work is intended to manage risk and reduce uncertainty in construction pricing.

The scope includes seismic refraction work in two field areas and additional soil sampling in locations where earlier tests found buried urban fill and isolated contaminants; the OPM described the proposals as a not-to-exceed/time-and-materials arrangement. Committee discussion emphasized that early testing would improve cost reconciliation before the MSBA submittal and reduce the chance of unanticipated change orders during construction.

At the same meeting, the committee approved Studio G invoice #34 for $498,000 (design development services) and invoice #35 for $47,113 (subconsultants, May). The OPM recommended both invoices as consistent with the billing schedule. The committee also authorized staff to negotiate a memorandum of understanding allowing the school department to use its cafeteria revolving fund for kitchen equipment purchases that would be credited to the project’s FF&E line, and authorized Steve Moore to sign the MOU on behalf of the building committee if finalized.

The committee recorded roll-call votes on the amendment and on the invoices; members voting in the affirmative included Kelly, Shawn Hearn, Steve Venuti, Bob (Bromley/Romley), Michelle Cain and Steve Moore. The OPM noted that cost-estimate reconciliation is scheduled around mid-July and proposed moving the committee’s July 15 meeting to July 22 so the 100% design development package can be finalized and submitted to the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) the following Friday.

Project managers from Gilbane and the OPM said schedule coordination is ongoing and that the construction team expects to prepare early bid packages, pre-qualify contractors for filed sub-bids, and begin mobilization around July 1, 2027, with site access and fencing timed to the school calendar. The team also reported that Peer Consultants will conduct an MSBA-required environmental site assessment and that a site walk-through is being scheduled for early July.

Next steps: the committee will reconvene (proposed July 22) to consider formal authorization for the OPM and designer to submit the 100% DD package to the MSBA and to review reconciled cost estimates. The approved geotechnical testing is intended to provide more accurate quantities for that submission and reduce downstream budget risk.