HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996-07-24-PBC-min.pdf TOWN OF LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS
PERMANENT BUILDING COMMITTEE
Minutes of July 24 1996 Meeting in the School Administration Building,
as approved December 16, 1997
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Bruckman at 7 10 p m with
other committee members Johnson, Kennedy and Touart present Also
present were School Committee Member Joseph Dini , Capital Expenditures
Committee member David Miller and Director of School Buildings Operation
John Moynihan, as well as representatives of three firms that submitted
proposals for a school space utilization study
Wallace Floyd Associates Inc was represented by Hubert Murray, a
principal substituting for Deborah Poodry; Jim May, an architect ,
Jennifer Peterson and Paul Abramson, described as a national curriculum
expert Among those also participating on the project would be
engineers Shooshanian and Chartwell & Co cost estimators
First in the project would be data collection on space existing
throughout the town' s system as well as programs and their spatial
requirements - the latter kind of data to be gathered through
interviews Among the questions they would ask are these What works?
What are the non-program concerns such as security? What changes in
direction are upcoming? Also included in the data collection would be a
total site analysis including parking and traffic All options would be
tested and costs estimated at the same time as design options Costing
and phasing would be considered Community acceptance would be needed
to carry out recommendations
Ongoing coordination and meetings would be directed toward final
presentation on October 31 The firm would provide a space analysis on
what is needed for each program and a database that can later be used by
the client
In discussion, Dini pointed out that the school committee and department
would need to know how to get along with the present building
footprints It was noted that most of Lexington's schools were in built
in the 1960s , before the changes and additions required by special
education Changes in computer space needs also need to be considered
Flexibility is important Murray asked how good the town' s demographic
estimates are Response This year the school department was within two
students; presently 17 percent of the student body is in special
education Replying to Moynihan's questions, Murray said the database
would be FoxPro, with all data including schematics and cost estimates
to go to the School Committee Moynihan noted that data on deferred
maintenance is now on floppy disks
DRA (Drummev Rosane Anderson Inc ) was represented by architect James
Barrett , principal and project manager Owen Baurhusier and architect
associate Paul Moore Citing some of his firm's past work (including
Hastings School most recently in Lexington) , Barrett said that the firm
now does mostly renovations DRA is strong in building a team of
professionals , clients and consultants to work fast , discussing goals
and programs and reviewing work
Study process would include (1) establishing need, ( 2) assessing the
physical plant , (3) examining sites (4) , considering potential solutions
PBC Minutes of 7/24/96 - Page 2
and options (5) , cost estimates, and (6) conclusions and
recommendations Preparations for state applications and presentations
at town meeting would be considered part of DRA's job
Q (Moynihan) What will George Collins of West Haven CT be doing? A He
is an education specialist
Q (Bruckman) asked about staffing in relation to the three months
schedule A Eight people would be working on the project, assisted by
the superintendent and staff of the Lexington Schools Paul Moore would
be the prime contact
Q What about empty classrooms? A About 85 to 90 percent space j
utilization is probably the maximum to be expected In some schools
there are more teachers than rooms Equivalent classrooms are
desirable Support spaces , such as teachers ' work rooms, etc , make I
flexibility easier
HMFH Architects Inc , represented by architect John Miller, is a firm
employing 40 people who specialize in public education work They are
just finishing a master study in Winchester, described as a "good
process " They also have worked extensively in Lincoln, Concord,
Weston, Cambridge and Chelsea
Miller described the Archetype report as a good study that now needs
verification and updating The high school has special problems,
particularly with circulation and the house plan Clarke has an open
plan but is not being used that way Speaking from experience in
Winchester, Miller told how his firm did demographic, physical plant
and, most importantly, program organization analyses Another important
aspect of the six-month study was the total community and town
government participation as well as commitment to program and class
size The study is now in the schematics phase, readying for a meeting
with all school users
A "significant renovation" will be needed for state funding, Miller
said Reorganization of space is needed at the high school and Clarke
Q How will you deal with the short schedule in Lexington? A The same
people who are now working in Winchester will be carrying on in
Lexington
Ratina discussion was based upon the criteria in the Request for
Proposal and on the rating sheet passed out at the conclusion of the
presentations Dini emphasized the need to meet budget and October 31
deadline for schematics etc No more than $100 ,000 is allowed for the
study, with $400 ,000 for the next phase of plan preparations
Ratings (1) HMFH, (2) Wallace, Floyd and (3) DRA VOTED to authorize
John Moynihan to negotiate with top-rated firm within allowed amount
Meeting adjourned at 9 55 p m
Respectfully submitted, t J�
e Erna S Greene, Secretary