Colegrove Park Elementary on Track for Jan. 4 Opening
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — School officials are confident Monday, Jan. 4, will be the first day of classes at Colegrove Park Elementary School.
The $30 million renovation of the century-old former middle school is months overdue; it was supposed to be ready for classes to begin in September.
"Two and a half months ago we were almost contemplating waiting until next September," said Mayor Richard Alcombright at Monday's School Building Committee. "Everybody from our owners [project manager], to the architect to the general contractor, really stepped up and really kind of pushed this through ... We are really confident now with the Jan. 4 date."
The upper floors of the three-story structure and the exterior are essentially completed, but the lower floors, stairwells and gym still have work required. Systems are still being tested and a change order to seal a seeping masonry section between the kitchen and boiler room still has to be done.
The initial substantial completion date was July 22, a date that has been changed several times over the months, with latest agreement between the city and general contractor PDS Engineering & Construction being Monday, Nov. 16.
"We don't feel they are complete because there are things outstanding," said Dorrie Brooks of Jones Whitsett Architects, the school's designers. "I gave them a list a two weeks ago of stuff that would have to be done by substantial completion, prior to starting the punch list, and they have done an awful lot of it but there's enough major stuff that we're sort of not there yet."
Brooks said she expected much of it will fall into place within the next two weeks since the contractor was making progress; some elements, such as handrails, are on order and others are just frustrating, like a toilet installed too close to a wall.
The contractor had been reminded of things it was responsible for, including cleaning, she said. "If we have to do any additional cleaning, the city has the right to hold money for that because it's there their job to do it."
Brooks did take a moment to commend the subcontractors, including Comalli Electric, Champlain Masonry and Chandler Architectural, that have been "excellent."
"Some of the subs have been excellent on the job and have really driven the bus and been really helpful," Brooks said. "Comalli started early and worked hard and not complained through these extensions and done excellent work."
Committee member Ronald Superneau had been in the building earlier in the day, saying the floors and classrooms "were absolutely gorgeous," although he did object to the new exterior name on the school's south side as being "dull."
He was concerned that the work would be ongoing even after the children were in the school.
"There are so many little things that need to be done, maybe I'm being picky but this is a $29.7 million project," said Superneau, who has been frequently critical of the contractor's progress.
Brooks responded that she, too, was confident that the building would be done for January. The furniture began arriving two weeks ago, and technology and systems training will begin in December. "I am not worried we won't be ready," she said.
Andy Gentile, of owner's project manager Colliers International, said, there will be a year's warranty on the building so if something doesn't work, it would be fixed after school hours.
The project is still within the overall project budget, he said, according to the Massachusetts School Building Authority, and pending the outstanding charges.
There is about $670,000 in change orders still out. The mayor said the changes are not dissimilar to previous ones that qualified for the state's 80 percent reimbursement.
Tags: Colegrove Park, Conte School, school building committee,
