Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Construction topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board approves schematic designs and design‑build amendment for Riesel Elementary
Summary
Rockingham County Schools accepted schematic designs and amended its design‑build contract for the new Riesel Elementary, approving a preliminary design fee and moving the project into schematic design with a target to complete schematics by mid‑September and seek a GMP next spring.
Rockingham County Schools’ board on July 12 approved preliminary schematic designs and a contract amendment that moves the Riesel Elementary project into the schematic‑design phase.
The district’s design‑build team told the board it will begin schematic work immediately, targeting completion by Sept. 15. The team presented program capacity estimates (about 650–700 students, roughly 89,000 square feet), preliminary site plans and systems choices, and a construction schedule the presenter said could be expedited where feasible. Michael Burris of MVP Carolinas, one of the design‑build partners, told the board, "With approval here tonight, we'd like to move forward with the schematic design phase starting tomorrow," and described an 18‑month construction window targeted to deliver the building in early 2029 under the current timeline.
Budget figures presented to the board included a total project planning figure of $44,100,000; a preliminary design fee request of $2,021,726 for early design and preconstruction services; a construction budget estimate of $38,500,000; and a combined design‑build package of $40,521,726. The district’s presenters said those numbers leave a county balance of $3,578,002.74 for fixed furniture, equipment and related contracts.
Operations staff said the bid process for demolition closed July 6 with two bids above the district’s target and that the demolition work was put out for rebid on July 10 with looser pre‑bid requirements to encourage more bidders. The design team said geotechnical borings, topography and site adjustments following surveys could change the site layout and that the guaranteed maximum price (GMP) would come later, following design development and permitting. The team said permitting steps will include submittal to the state Department of Public Instruction prior to local permits.
Board members asked about program elements, HVAC approaches and the potential to trim gym square footage to reduce cost; the presenters said many changes can be made in schematic design and design development to hold the project to budget while preserving program requirements. The board voted to accept the preliminary design and to approve the design‑build amendment that authorizes schematic design work and moves the contract forward.
Next steps outlined by staff include completion of schematic design, design development through November, issuance of construction documents and a forthcoming GMP submission and notice to proceed.
