Conte School Project Bidding Could Be Delayed
 Each floor of the school will have a different accent color: blue, green, purple and a color to be decided. No red, though, it was decided. |
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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Bidding for the Conte School project likely will not occur until mid- to late January, which squeezes the construction timeline from 17 months to 16.
However, project coordinators think a September opening in 2015 is still possible
"I think this is a doable schedule the way it's laid out," said Mel Overmoyer of Strategic Building Solutions, the owner's project manager. "But if we run into any of these problems, we may have to visit it again."
Among those problems could be comments from the Massachusetts School Building Authority or related agencies that cannot be answered in time, issues with the alternative item list for potential elimination or a challenge to the awarding of the contract.
Overmoyer felt strongly that the final contract should also detail that substantial construction be completed by July 2015 to ensure the completion date is met.
"If this gets squeezed any further, the bids are going go up or the opening is not going to be in September," he told the School Building Committee on Monday night.
The time line has been slipping as the final details for the 90 percent cost submission to the MSBA is completed. Margo Jones of Margo Jones Architects said part of the reason is that comments from MSBA in the 60 percent submission had indicated more time was needed to review documents.
One of the estimators was also a little behind because of a personal matter.
"It is very important that we have the documents up to date for 90 percent ... I'm taking the position that it's better to take another week and get up-to-date estimates," said Jones. "MSBA wants their 30 days to review and make their comments."
The target date for approving the 90 percent phase, or cost estimates at 90 percent of the design of the project, was set for Dec. 16. The original date for submission to MSBA was Dec. 5. However, the new date gives time for the estimates to be received and the numbers to be given to committee members prior to the meeting.
Jones said four general contractors had been prequalified for bidding, including two large, well-known companies.
Committee member Nancy Ziter said a number of subcontractors had also prequalified but other trades would have to resolicited because the requirement of three applications had not been met.
 The rabbit on the left is the same size as the one on the right, but is considered an impediment to access. |
Jones and architect Dorrie Brooks also went over some minor room changes in response to questioning from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. The Architectural Access Board approved two variances but denied one (door sizes in the stairwells) and continued another, also regarding doors.
Brooks said putting in wider doors in the stairwells wasn't significant since those were being changed, but the board was also concerned about a 2-inch by 1/2-inch rabbit on the original framing of some 30 doors.
The rabbit is the same size as the door stops — which are not considered a problem — and are there so the doors can be flipped.
"It's on existing door frames that we want to use again," said Brooks, who added that Building Inspector William Meranti was sending a letter to the AAB stating he did not believe they were an impediment to access and pointing to the historic nature of the doors.
Committee members also had a chance to look at some finishes — such as carpets and linoleum tile — that will be used to give each floor a distinctive character. Blue, purple and green accents were given a thumbs up but an orangey-red was rejected.
"This is North Adams, we can't have red," said one member. (Both of Drury High School's closest athletic competitors wear red.) Jones said they'd find a fourth complementary accent color.
In other business:
• An updated alternate item list was passed out for further review.
• The potential for the school to be gold LEED certified was touched on. "We want to work with teachers to make sure it's integrated into the curriculum and it does make sense," said Jones.
• Overmoyer cautioned about leaving the building completely unheated; Facilities Manager Matthew Neville said the heat had been shut off in most of the building for three years.
• The next meeting on Monday, Dec. 2, is tentatively scheduled to take place in City Council Chambers.
Tags: Conte School, MSBA, school project,
