Board reviews field-house design and readies bids for August

Architect Mike Hoff of 11 and Porter presented the proposed field-house design to the Bradford Exempted Village Board, describing a roughly 7,000-square-foot gym with an 84-by-50-foot basketball court, additional side courts, a mezzanine, locker rooms, lobby and concession area. "We have a, a 7,000 square foot plus gym. That's an 84 by 50, court, basketball court," Hoff said during the presentation.

Hoff walked the board through the base bid — the core scope contractors will price — and eight numbered alternates that the district can selectively add depending on bid results and available funds. Alternates discussed included a weight room (a major alternate), interior liner panels in the gymnasium, epoxy or LVT flooring for lobby and shower areas, metal wall panel interior finishes, and optional bleachers that were intentionally excluded from the base package so they can be added later. Hoff explained that alternates let the board "shop" on bid day: contractors submit prices for the base and for each alternate, and the district can prioritize what to include.

On safety and systems, Hoff described two options for fire alarms: extending the existing Simplex system as part of the base bid or bidding a standalone alarm system as an alternate, noting the recurring monitoring fees differ between those options. He also detailed site and mechanical placement, saying ground-mounted air handlers will sit on the north side to minimize visibility from the primary south-facing elevation and that high windows will bring natural light into the gym.

Board members asked about circulation and accessory features. Hoff said the mezzanine is code-defined and accessed by an interior stair and an exterior egress stair; the design includes cable supports for a batting cage (the cage itself is not included in the bid), and doors at secure vestibules will allow controlled access while meeting egress requirements. On flooring, Hoff recommended a synthetic performance surface in the base bid — lower cost with similar on-court performance — with higher-end wood or wood-look options available as alternates.

The board discussed procurement timing and budget. Chair and district staff told members bids are due Aug. 5 and that the board will review them before the Aug. 12 meeting, when it expects to recommend a contract. Treasurer/administrator noted a current base-bid estimate of about $3,600,000 and that statutory allowances and architects' fees could move the total toward $4 million or higher; the district intends to use value engineering and local packages where feasible to control costs.

The board voted to approve the architectural plans and to proceed to bid. The board also discussed event logistics for an upcoming ribbon-cutting scheduled for Aug. 12 before the meeting and agreed to continue detailed budget review as bids arrive.