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Architects show finished designs for new Belgrade elementary; contractor flags $26.6M project cost (excluding gym)
Summary
SMA Architects presented 100% design plans for the new Belgrade elementary school and the district's contractor reported rising costs: a building cost around $19.07M, site cost about $3.4M, and a full project estimate near $26.6M excluding a future gym alternate estimated at $4.6M–$4.9M.
District architects gave the board a 100% design-development update for the planned Belgrade elementary school, describing an entry-centered layout with a multipurpose room, security vestibules, a library volume with north light, classroom pods, and materials chosen to allow a planned second phase that would expand capacity from an initial 250 students to 500 in a later stage.
"We're at the 100% design development stage," said Charlie Franklin (speaker 9) of SMA Architects. Franklin described exterior materials (metal panels, precast concrete, brick) and a solar-wall feature intended to preheat air for HVAC efficiency. Architects said they intentionally left western-facing walls blank in phase 1 so that a phase-2 addition can be attached with lower-cost materials used on surfaces that will be removed later.
Contractor Matt from Landlands (speaker 15) reported a rise in estimated costs after subcontractor feedback. "On the building cost, we're sitting around $19.07 million; site cost is $3,400,000," he said, and estimated the full project cost (not including the gym alternate) at about $26.6 million. The gym alternate pricing was described in a rough range of $4.6 million to $4.9 million; the presentation noted that adding a full gym would increase the bond draw.
Interior design views showed a library volume, flexible bookcases, accessible sightlines for staff, movable partitions in the multipurpose space, and equitable casework across classrooms. On safety concerns raised previously about large library glazing, architects said they reduced glazing, planned for bookcases and HVAC equipment along windows, and will use durable wall coverings near lower walls to mitigate wear.
The designers also noted existing site observations (fine surface cracking seen in some concrete floors) and said staff would continue follow-up assessments. The architects scheduled a deeper work session on the 28th to dive into cost and scope details with the board.
Next steps: staff and architects will continue cost refinement, present gym alternates as priced alternates for decision, and convene a work session for deeper review of budgets and schedule.
