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West Salem board hears detailed update on high school CTE addition; architects say project remains near budget
Summary
Architects and construction managers presented schematic designs for a CTE wing, greenhouse and renovations at West Salem High School, including a $11 million estimate for the CTE addition and a $500,000 allowance for a greenhouse. Presenters said the high school project is roughly $300,000–$350,000 under budget at schematic design.
Architects and construction managers told the West Salem School Board that schematic design for a new CTE wing, greenhouse and interior renovations is nearing completion and remains close to the district —udget.
Kevin Bills of ISG, the lead architect, said the design shifts many instructional spaces out of the basement, adds a new CTE wing with metals, woods and autos labs, and creates a new science lab and greenhouse. "We're just getting to the end of schematic design," Bills said, and the design team is working to "solidify our scope of the project, understand the footprint, and what we're moving forward." (Presenter identified in meeting materials.)
Jason Peterson of construction management firm Kraus Sanderson summarized the cost estimate: site work about $400,000; building renovations roughly $1.7 million; the CTE addition about $11,000,000; and the greenhouse about $500,000. Peterson said the team is carrying a 7% construction contingency and a 5% design contingency at this stage. "Right now, we're about $300,000 to $350,000 under budget on the high school," Peterson said, adding that, combined with the elementary project, the net position is approximately $200,000 favorable at schematic design.
The team walked the board through program changes: relocating art and speech spaces, adding a head house and greenhouse, creating a new fitness area with perimeter equipment and center turf, and consolidating some shop finish areas. Staff and board members asked about classroom adjacencies, circulation between labs and classrooms, and community access for off-hours use of the fitness space. Designers said user-group feedback prompted changes including more dedicated robotics space and flexible, movable workstations for shops.
Presenters also discussed a key tradeoff: building a full fire-suppression (sprinkler) system versus using rated walls. The team said the cost difference was "nearly a wash" and recommended including sprinklers in the addition to allow more glazed openings and greater flexibility, subject to final plan-review findings.
Alternates discussed for future consideration included added PE storage and vestibules (presenters identified a $600,000 figure for a storage alternate), and a concrete pad to reserve space for a future cooler/freezer off the kitchen. Board members asked for follow-up work with staff and requested a site tour; presenters said they would hold additional user-group meetings and expect to return in late May or early June with refined plans and budgets.
The board did not take final action on design alternates or contract awards at the meeting; presenters noted the estimates will be refined as the project moves from schematic design into design development.
