Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Volunteers Green Pavilion topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Engineer says pavilion for Volunteers Green needs more detailed design, recommends owner’s rep
Summary
At a Volunteer Parks Improvement Committee meeting in Richmond, mechanical engineer John Johnston urged the group to move past rough estimates and secure detailed design, site borings and permitting for a pavilion at Volunteers Green, and recommended hiring an owner's representative to control costs and coordinate consultants.
John Johnston, a mechanical engineer with Bread Loaf Corporation, told the Volunteer Parks Improvement Committee that the committee’s schematic drawings are a useful start but that a rough-order-of-magnitude estimate — the kind that yields a range of possible totals — will not be sufficient for budgeting or bidding.
“This is something that might cost you $600,000 or $1,200,000,” Johnston said, adding that site work — including sewer and water tie-ins and foundation borings in a flood‑plain location — is often the largest variable. He recommended civil and structural engineering, geotechnical borings and permitting as the next steps and said FEMA may need to sign off because Volunteers Green sits in a flood plain.
Johnston walked members through three common delivery methods. In design‑bid‑build the architect produces complete drawings and the town bids the work; he warned that projects in the current market often come in “50%, 70% over budget” under that approach. Under construction‑management delivery (CM), a construction manager joins early to estimate and control costs and can provide a guaranteed maximum price. In design‑build a single firm provides both design and construction, which can speed delivery but raises procurement questions for municipalities.
“A good owner’s rep can take you through all these options and help you do this properly,” Johnston said, advising the committee to budget for design fees and an owner’s representative so cost estimates are realistic and spec documents are bid-ready.
Committee members asked whether the town could pursue a bond vote and how design‑build fits with state bidding rules; Johnston said those are policy and procurement decisions for the town but reiterated that accurate site information and borings are essential before pricing. He recommended combining the pavilion and playground work on a single site‑work schedule to avoid duplicate mobilization costs.
Next steps recorded in the meeting: the committee will consider developing a detailed budget and a scope of work to share with potential owner’s representatives, refine the schematic drawings, and coordinate with town staff on permitting and procurement options.
