Construction manager: most HVAC units online; media center handover expected mid-September

The Watchung Borough School District board heard a detailed construction update from Legacy Construction Management on summer projects, including delays in HVAC deliveries and the status of classroom and common-area handovers. Connor O'Brien, the project's construction executive, said most installed rooftop and gym units are running and supplying fresh air and air conditioning as students returned for the new school year.

"The fresh air and the AC is fully operational in the district," O'Brien said, and added that the remainder of the units are expected to arrive in September. He told the board crews will work second shifts and weekends where necessary to avoid disrupting instructional time.

O'Brien described a delay in the media center timeline after additional steel was required above the ceiling to support rooftop units. That work pushed the media center schedule back; O'Brien said the district expects to hand the space over to the librarian "mid, mid-September," allowing time for set up.

The contractor said the art room is essentially finished but is affected by the media center steel work because the art room sits directly beneath the media center. Fixed windows and the egress door constrained the use of large machinery, so portable ventilation units were installed as a temporary measure. "The units she did confirm that they would not allow her to teach in that environment because of the noise," O'Brien said, describing the district's need to find quieter temporary accommodations so art instruction can continue.

Work on rooftop units, electrical hookups and controls is ongoing. O'Brien reported that Valley View gym rooftop units have been started and, even where interior ductwork remains incomplete, are delivering fresh air and cooling to the space. He said punch-list items remain in some areas and special-order finishes (notably tile) are on delayed shipments expected within one to two weeks.

During board questions, administrators said library books were temporarily stored in an office while the media center is finalized, and that art classes have been moved to nearby spaces to avoid missed projects. The contractor cautioned that removing older HVAC equipment could reveal additional costs but said, "within the allowances that we did set for these projects I am confident that by the end of the active projects that we have that will actually be under budget," while noting that some uncertainty remains until demolition work begins.

The presentation included before-and-after photos showing finished casework, new cabinetry, office furniture and other cosmetic completions. Board members thanked the contractor and the district custodial and maintenance teams for getting spaces ready in time for staff orientation and the first day of school.

Next steps noted at the meeting included completing remaining electrical/control connections for rooftop units, installing delayed tile in classrooms and bathrooms, and evaluating quieter ventilation solutions for the art room so teachers can resume normal instruction there.