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Community Corner

Architects Give Updates on School Building Projects

Architects for three school construction projects reported on their progress to the School Building Committee Thursday night.

Work on a new wing for Hanover Elementary School’s all-day kindergarten program can’t begin until the EPA approves removal of PCBs, architect Robert Andrade told the School Building Committee Thursday night. And the City Council is scheduled to vote Monday on funding large-scale renovations to Platt and Maloney high schools, to the tune of $228 million.

New Wing for Hanover Elementary Faces Delays

Construction of a new wing for an all-day kindergarten program at Hanover Elementary, originally scheduled to begin as soon as this school year ends, faces slight delays, according to architect Robert Andrade. EPA approval is now needed for removal of PCBs, a toxic compound discovered in the caulking and bricks around one window.

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“The State Bureau of School Facilities will not sign off until they have a piece of paper that says the EPA has signed off on this,” he said. EPA approval “could take upwards of about four weeks,” he added.

The project can’t go out for bid until the state gives the go-ahead. While this means that building will begin later than planned, “it won’t affect the end date,” Andrade insisted. The project is scheduled to be complete before the start of the 2012-2013 school year.

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“Hopefully we can get this window abated and removed in August,” said Glen Lamontagne, who has been spearheading school construction efforts. The important thing, he added, is to get the work done over the summer that can’t be done while students are in the building.

When complete, the new wing will hold 160 to 180 kindergarten students. Total cost for the project is estimated at $7.2 million. The state will foot all but about $1 million of the bill.

Extreme Makeover: High School Edition

On Monday, June 6, the City Council is set to vote on funding dual renovation projects for Maloney and Platt high schools--costing a combined $228 million. The city’s Finance Committee recommended to bond the projects on May 24.

The square footage and overall costs for both schools have been reduced from the original plans presented to the School Building Committee last month. Maloney’s footprint slimmed down by about 15,000 square feet, reducing its price tag from $116.5 million to $110.2 million. Plans for Platt came down by 10,000 square feet, dropping its cost from $123 million to $118 million.

The state sets a limit on the square footage that it will reimburse based on the number of students enrolled at the school. The goal is to get the schools as small as possible while meeting all anticipated needs for the space, Lamontagne explained. “We want to maximize state reimbursement without compromising quality,” he said.

“It’s my belief, as we work our way through this, that we might be able to reduce a bit more,” Lamontagne added. “I’m very confident that we will be able to complete these projects within these numbers.”

According to the architects, the reduction in size comes largely from making classrooms smaller—about 775 square feet instead of the originally slated 850 square feet. Classrooms at both schools currently average about 750 square feet.

In addition, Paul Antinozzi, architect for Platt, said the cafeteria size will be smaller than originally planned because projections show a smaller enrollment in the future. At Maloney, space was merged in the home economics area and one classroom was removed in the shop area, according to architects from Fletcher Thompson.

During the city Finance Committee meeting on May 24, suggestions were made to cut costs for the Platt renovation by leaving the kitchen and cafeteria where they are and not moving the outdoor track. When asked whether plans have been revised to incorporate those suggestions, Antinozzi replied, “Have we worked on it? Yes. Have we solved anything? No.”

Reports, due from the architects on June 15, are scheduled to be filed with the state a few days later. Officials are racing to meet the June 30 deadline in the hopes of locking in the current state reimbursement rate, which is likely to be reduced in the future. Under the current arrangement, the city will be responsible for about $81 million of the total $228 million cost.

“There’s a lot of work to do in the next two weeks,” Lamontagne said.

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