Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Project Costs topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Designers explain one‑story preference and cost tradeoffs for Boxborough station
Summary
Architects said a one‑story layout was chosen after preliminary cost work and geotechnical review showed excavation/ledge removal could offset savings from a two‑story scheme; the team said the one‑story plan improves direct access to apparatus.
Designers said they studied a two‑story scheme but preliminary pricing and site conditions led the committee to favor a one‑story plan. The team said some perimeter areas on the site contain shallower bedrock and that additional excavation and selective ledge removal for a two‑story footprint could increase costs.
A resident who worked in construction challenged that claim; Rebecca Hoy (former project manager) said she had not seen architects state that an expanded footprint could be more expensive than a second floor. Chris Logan replied that on this specific site, geotechnical data suggest extra site work might offset typical savings of building up.
The design team estimated a small preliminary cost delta (1–2% in early estimates) between the schemes but emphasized those figures are preliminary and that detailed cost estimating is ongoing as the project moves into later design phases.
