Committee approves contingency increases for Norwalk High School construction; project managers promise deeper budget briefing

The Norwalk City Land Use and Building Management Committee approved requests to increase contingency allowances tied to the Norwalk High School construction project, allowing the city to accept the site concrete subcontract and raise the construction manager’s change‑order authority.

Alan Lowe and project staff described two requests: (1) increase the contingency/authorization to accept the site concrete package and related change order in an amount not to exceed $3,540,305, and (2) increase the owner contingency/change‑order allowance with Gilbane Building Company by an amount not to exceed $6,987,066. Dan, project staff, said the recent site‑concrete bid came in “just over $4,000,000” and that several remaining packages (bleachers/press box, post‑tension tennis courts, furniture/equipment) will be procured in coming months. He told the committee that with the recently approved capital budget increase, funds are in place to buy the package and to increase the contingency to more typical job percentages.

Committee members asked for a detailed public breakdown of the project’s cumulative costs, state reimbursements and remaining contingencies. Alan Lowe agreed to prepare a deeper budget briefing for the committee and public so members can track reimbursements, soil/rock remediation allowances and remaining risks. Staff reiterated that the state approves reimbursement for a large portion of the project and that schedule milestones anticipate furniture delivery and move‑in in spring 2027, with final demolition and athletic-facility work to follow.