HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-08-06-PBC-min.pdf TOWN OF LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS
PERMANENT BUILDING COMMITTEE
Notes of Tuesday August 6. 2002 meeting in the High School Media Center Classroom, as
revised and accepted November 12, 2002.
The meeting was called to order at 7 10 p.m. by long-standing PBC member Touart with other
member Sperandio present (no quorum). Also attending were School Committee members
Anthony Close, Robin DiGiammarino and Sherry Gordon, as well as Harrington School staff
members Principal David Crumb, Denise Omobono and Michael Spencer, as well as Harrington
School parents Judy Crocker (also PTA Co-president), Peter Bunzick, Rod Crocker, Sue Cusack
(and Enablement Committee member) Barry Glass and Henrietta Mei (and an architect).
Representing the Design Advisory Committee(DAC) were John Davies (Planning Board
Liaison), John Frey Sarah Harkness, Steven Hurley and Carl Oldenburg. Architects Todd Lee
and Carol Marsh spoke for the architects, TLCR Associates along with Sheikh A. Rahman of
their engineers SAR.
Distributed by TLCR. Set of new interior plans with sheet on column structure detail and
two new reports: `Geothermal Feasibility Study for New Harrington Elementary School' and
"HVAC System Design Study" prepared (belated) by architects (distribution in limited number)
HVAC Heat Pump System and geothermal wells were explained by Sheik Rahman for benefit of
new attendees, with note that geothermal wells would be up to 1600 feet deep, with warmer
water temperatures obtained at greater depth. Water would be removed from bottom
(temperature 50-55) and returned to the top of the well after circulating through the system. This
would be a closed system with no waste. One example done by SAR engineers is the Hastings
elementary school in Westborough. Many Boston buildings use this system as well as about
2,000 schools in U.S.A. The EPA encourages use of this system for energy efficiency With
geothermal source cooling towers, the boilers would be smaller and required only in temperature
extremes. Rahman described it as a "very simple system," with expected life of pump equipment
about 25 years.
Added cost for geothermal wells would be $240,000 with payback in seven and a half years, but
with rebates and grants from the state and utility companies, the payback would be reduced to
between three and four years. A well could be drilled within two months, and Rahman
recommended a test well be done. Considerations would be budget, including design cost as
well as landscaping around the caps of the five needed wells. It was agreed the PBC would
review the report prepared by SAR and provide comments.
New Plan for Harrington school was passed out, showing a front-back switch of the two-story
wings. Because the stair cases and entries face the fields, in/out access is easier A building
section at a staircase area shows where air handling equipment and heat pumps could be placed
in areas between floors and away from classrooms.
PBC meeting notes of Tuesday, August 6, 2002 -page2
Among design considerations, TLCR is considering using Acentech for acoustic design and Cole
and Goyette for kitchen design. Various elevation and interior plans were shown. It was noted
that higher ceilings lessen reverberation noise. Children, prefer taller rooms, Lee asserted.
However, windows should be low enough that children could see out. Use of non-square
surfaces such as angled soffits rather than whole walls was suggested as a way to mitigate noise
and lighting. Marsh noted that two-dimensional drawings cannot show the effect of shadows and
colors. The main entrance use of doubled up and down gable peaks was complimented by a
DAC member. The architects advocated using lighter-colored blocks as exterior walls rise to give
the building lightness. Use of parapets and cornices atop the side walls was debated briefly in
the sense of overhang or demarkation at the top of side walls. A water table and a suggestion of
foundation with a darker color was shown on the side elevations. How to mask or contain the
various kinds of equipment was solved in the two one-story wings, but the architects are still
working on the problem of screening the large HVAC equipment needed for the central module
containing administration, offices, library, gym, cafeteria, etc.
Lee noted that at the requitement/parameter recommending meeting to be held Thursday in the
School Administration Building Conference Room, his firm would be represented by Carol
Marsh and Nelson Hammer.
Meeting adjourned at 8:56 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Erna S. Greene, Secretary