Carl Franceschi of DRA presented the changes to the plans for a new Taconic High School. A number of items were reduced or eliminated to bring the budget to $116 million.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Architects for the proposed new vocational high school are suggesting a total $116 million budget.

 

Carl Franceschi of Drumney Rosane & Anderson Architects Inc. gave the initial estimate for a new Taconic High School on Monday to the School Building Needs Commission.

 

The total project is estimated to cost $116 million, $93.7 million of that being construction costs.

 

 

The costs are in line with what the architects projected while designing the building. Estimators from the company looked through the design and Franceschi said they cut back on a number of items to fit the numbers proposed.

 

"We've made the progress we need to in trimming the budget and keeping things in line with keeping this budget where we proposed it to be," he said.

 

Reductions included the amount of glass windows, equipment and built-in storage areas, the rainwater reuse system, solar panels, screening for roof equipment, and the overall building size.  Higher quality items for finishes, light fixtures, air conditioning, and curbing were also cut back.

 

"Glass also comes at a price. Glass costs more than solid wall," Fransceschi said.

 

Glass will still be a major piece of the school's look but not as much as the original proposed glass "ribbons" around the building. Designers also proposed reducing the size of some of the windows. Skylights, which the commission had previous concerns with, were also eliminated.

 

Built-in cabinets and certain kitchen equipment was reduced and a circulation desk for the library was scaled back.

 

The rainwater reuse system would have fed into the air conditioning system. However, the architects are proposing to shrink the size of the air conditioning units so as not to serve every classroom and therefore reducing the rainwater system.

 

Instead of buying solar panels, the city is recommended to look into leasing the space on the roof to a solar company, which will reduce construction costs.

 

"This is also one we could consider as an alternate," Fransceschi said, adding that the city will prioritize the items removed to add back in should bids come in lower than anticipated.

 

Fencing for the four large mechanical units on the roof is proposed to be cut out but is listed an an alternative.

 

The building square footage has been reduced in some areas, too. Eight resource rooms were cut by 50 square feet each, from 500 to 450. Three computer labs were reduced by 100 square feet each and some of the hallways and stairways were shrunk. A total of 10,000 square feet was removed, most of which was pulled from spaces proposed to be left open.

 

The amount of flooring proposed for the entrance and wood paneling was reduced, and a sealant for the shop floors was switched from epoxy to a less expensive material.

 

"We were looking at durability ... maintenance and durability," Fransceschi said of the decisions.

 

The commission was concerned about reductions in air conditioning. According to Taconic Principal John Vosburgh, some 150 to 200 students use Taconic every summer.

 

Dale Caldwell outlined what the project will cost taxpayers.

"We have housed the majority of the summer programs," Vosburgh said. "We do have a pretty active summer scheduled at the school."

 

Superintendent Jason McCandless agreed that the school is used heavily during the summer. But, he said the city wouldn't be "boxing ourselves in" if the school is used more during the summer in the future. Most schools do not have air conditioning in all of the classrooms.

 

That cutback saved $1.4 million, Fransceschi said, and will reduce ongoing costs to run it.

 

A moisture mitigation plan for concrete floors on the second and third floor was eliminated for a preliminary savings of $638,000. However, some of those savings will be used for a coating on the entire first floor, which is most susceptible to moisture damage, and on the upper floors as needed.

 

The classrooms and hallways will be lit by fluorescent tubes rather than LEDs, saving $97,000. Islands planned for the parking lots were also reduced, dropping the need for granite curbing.

 

Monday's meeting was the first step in setting the budget for the project and some members of the commission voiced concern that too much had been cut.

 

"It is a generational opportunity and I wouldn't want to cut too much out of it," said Ellen Kennedy.

 

Mayor Daniel Bianchi echoed Kennedy's sentiment.

 

"This is something that comes along once every 40 years and while I want to be responsive to recommendations for savings, I don't want to do it at the risk of eliminating having something special here," Bianchi said.

 

Fransceschi and DRA has been estimating the project at about $115 million and the design cutbacks were made following the estimator's review of the first design. 

 

According to McCandless, the state, which will be paying about 65 percent of the total project cost, approved crafting a project of $125 million. McCandless praised DRA's work in designing a project that is both aesthetically pleasing and functional while staying under the $125 million cap.

 

DRA first submitted an educational plan in May 2014; the schematic design phase narrowed down the options of renovation or building new.

 

"We collectively believe that a new school replacing Taconic was the way to go," Franceschi said.

 

The Massachusetts School Building Authority will have to approve a final budget before the City Council votes in April whether to borrow for the project. The MSBA board of directors meets March 25.

 

"This is a very exciting time for the project," Franceschi said. "In this submittal coming up in a couple weeks, we are nailing down the scope, timelines and budget of the project."

 

He said the project costs will be estimated three more times before the final budget is given to the MSBA.