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Copper flashing is being installed around the top of the building. Exterior work has moved to the east side of the building.

Colegrove School Project on Budget, But Not on Time

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
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Retaining walls outline the new playgrounds and entrance areas at Colegrove Park Elementary School.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The new elementary school continues on budget — if not on time.

Colegrove Park Elementary School is supposed to be "substantially complete" by Wednesday but officials say it's months from being ready.

"They are clearly several months at best until completion," Kenneth J. Guyette of Strategic Building Solutions/Colliers International, the owner's project manager, told the School Building Committee on Monday. "We've been bombarded with a number of very large potential change orders within the last two weeks with a lot of time requested off that.

"That's what we're discussing with the city and the architect how to get through that issue."

The city was notifed in May that the $29.7 million renovation of the old Drury High School would likely not be ready for opening this fall. General contractor PDS Engineering & Construction Inc. had initially set a new date of Aug. 16, but that date is no longer viable.

School officials plan to begin the school year with the new redistricting in place; Colegrove pupils will start the year at Sullivan School. In the last walkthrough, Mayor Richard Alcombright said it could be the first of the year before the school opened, to give time for teachers to move into their classrooms.

The main issue for the city's officials and design team has been the lack of manpower onsite, which they believe is causing delays and putting the schedule behind. Schedules have not been adhered to and a "legitimate recovery" plan has not been forthcoming, they say.

"Manpower continues to be flat," said Guyette

Member Ronald Superneau, who has repeatedly voiced his displeasure with the company, said the penalty spelled out in the contract may not be an incentive to bring more crews on.

"They're going to end up paying more for overtime than they would the $1,000 a day they're going to be charged by us," he said.

The $1,000 a day penalty that begins on Thursday is spelled out in the contract; the penalty would be deducted from the cost of the project.

Superneau asked that a representative from the contractor appear at the next meeting and suggested the School Committee should also attend.

A representative had been expected to attend Monday's meeting.



Superintendent James Montepare, running the meeting in the mayor's absence, said there will be costs incurred by the city because it will have to keep Sullivan open for several more months.

While the committee has been unhappy with the speed of the project, it is has been complimentary about how well the work is being done. Progress is being made, albeit slower than anticipated.

"When it's done it's going to be nice," Superintendent James Montepare, running the meeting in the mayor's absence, said. "And even the work that was done from last week to this week ... it's going to be beautiful."

The interior is nearing completion with the third floor the farthest along — lights and fixtures are being installed. Light shelves — interior units designed to bounce light off the ceiling — are being put in and the first mockup of an exterior sunshade was installed.

While the ground floor needs the most work, the kitchen and dishroom are nearly done; bathrooms are also being tiled.

Major ductwork has started and two HVAC units are set to go on the roof in the next two weeks, although the committee thought that optimistic. Masons are now working on the east side of the building - including the old Drury wall, gym and new elevator shaft.

Windows and window trim, including Corian windowsills, are still going in, and the installation of roof parapets and copper flashing are ongoing.

The original terrazo tile is being refurbished along with the wood floors.

The most visible change at this point is the excavation and the concrete footings and walls for the playground and main entrance area on the south side.

"We're doing really well on change orders," Guyette said. "Right now over 90 percent are eligible for reimbursement by the MSBA. Right now, we are tracking on budget."

The Massachusetts School Building Authority has been frequently onsite but has stayed out of any dealings over delays, saying it's a city issue, he said.

"They love the project, they really do," Guyette said. "It's a showpiece because there aren't that many historic projects."


Tags: Colegrove Park,   Conte School,   school building committee,   school project,   

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Macksey Updates on Eagle Street Demo and Myriad City Projects

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff

The back of Moderne Studio in late January. The mayor said the city had begun planning for its removal if the owner could not address the problems. 
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Moderne Studio building is coming down brick by brick on Eagle Street on the city's dime. 
 
Concerns over the failing structure's proximity to its neighbor — just a few feet — means the demolition underway is taking far longer than usual. It's also been delayed somewhat because of recent high winds and weather. 
 
The city had been making plans for the demolition a month ago because of the deterioration of the building, Mayor Jennifer Macksey told the City Council on Tuesday. The project was accelerated after the back of the 150-year-old structure collapsed on March 5
 
Initial estimates for demolition had been $190,000 to $210,000 and included asbestos removal. Those concerns have since been set aside after testing and the mayor believes that the demolition will be lower because it is not a hazardous site.
 
"We also had a lot of contractors who came to look at it for us to not want to touch it because of the proximity to the next building," she said. "Unfortunately time ran out on that property and we did have the building failure. 
 
"And it's an unfortunate situation. I think most of us who have lived here our whole lives and had our pictures taken there and remember being in the window so, you know, we were really hoping the building could be safe."
 
Macksey said the city had tried working with the owner, who could not find a contractor to demolish the building, "so we found one for him."
 
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