HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001-10-17-PBC-min.pdf TOWN OF LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS
PERMANENT BUILDING COMMITTEE
Minutes of Wednesday October 17 2001 meeting in Commons 2, Lexington High School, as
approved December 13, 2001
The meeting was jointly called to order shortly after 7.00 p.m. by School Committee Chairman
Robin DiGiammarino and PBC Chairman Kelley with other PBC members Cannalonga,
Johnson, Himmel, Kennedy and Touart. School Committee members Scott Burson, Anthony
Close and Sherry Gordon also attended. Others attending included School Superintendent Joanne
Benton, Director of School Facilities John Moynihan, Capital Expenditures Chairman Tom
Griffith, Appropriation Committee Member George Burnell, Selectman Dawn McKenna and
interested citizen Loren Wood. Representing TLCR Associates, Inc. were Principal Todd Lee,
Carol Marsh and Marianne Talarico Smith. Representing J Stewart Roberts Associates, Inc.
were J Stewart Roberts and Chris Albright. Town Manager Rick White appeared at*10 p.m.
Materials distributed included the following
Schematic Design booklets for Fiske and Harrington Schools from TLCR Associates, Inc.
including design information on the site and proposed buildings, reports from consultants, cost
estimates, budget and schedule.
From J Stewart Roberts: an information sheet on new construction options for the Bowman and
Estabrook elementary schools (one sheet each).
TLCR's Todd Lee and Carol Marsh presented plans for two new schools on the sites of the Fiske
and Harrington schools. Each would be a two-story building including a special one-story pod
for kindergarten classrooms with a special entrance and bus drop off area. The Harrington
school would contain a second one-story pod for the early education center to serve town-wide.
The existing Harrington school would remain after construction to function as swing space. It
could later be devoted to other uses or razed. The rationales of site use and traffic patterns were
explained by Ms. Marsh.
Construction cost estimates:
For Fiske: $10,169,010, or $147.38 per square foot
For Harrington: $9,913,768 or$143.68 per square foot
These are in 2001 bid dollars, including contingency Soft costs, to include furniture and
equipment, etc. would be additional to construction costs.
In subsequent discussion, the architects told that they would recommend budgeting a 10 percent
construction contingency but the current budget would allow for less than this. A two-year
duration of construction is the basis of the estimate. The School Committee noted that it would
come forth with a decision on furniture and equipment. The School Committee also requested
the PBC to study possible add/alternates.
PBC Minutes of Wednesday, October 17, 2001 -page 2
J Stewart Roberts olans for Bowman and Fstabrook were explained by Chris Albright, speaking
with displayed site plans. At Bowman, the wetlands that surround the school on three sides limit
and complicate enlargement and rearrangement plans. She pointed out flood plain, 100-foot and
200-foot setback requirements for these wetlands and for the stream in the nearby woods that is
subject to the Rivers Protection Act. A new kindergarten wing would be added (about 8,000
square feet) adjacent to the early elementary grade classrooms and the existing library would be
enlarged and turned 90 degrees.
Each elementary school is envisioned and to be planned for 500 pupils. School Committee
suggested that some redistricting might be needed to achieve balance among schools as
neighborhoods develop at uneven rates. Renovation and site work would cost approximately
$9.325 million or about $135 per square foot. It was noted that the state will reimburse up to
new construction cost. The present Bowman would need new roof, windows and systems.
Asked whether a one-story or two-story school would be preferred, Superintendent Benton
indicated the latter, since less walking would be required to perambulate the building.
At Estabrook, the principal site problem would be to separate school bus from parent drop off
areas. About 3,000 square feet addition would be required, and a cafeteria would be added near
the present kitchen facility All building systems would need upgrade, and there is more asbestos
in this building than at Bowman.
Estimates of construction costs are in today's dollard, the architects responded to questions from
the PBC. At the end of the discussion Albright and Roberts gave a compendium of costs and
advantages/disadvantages of building a new school on each of the sites. No disadvantages were
listed for a new school at Estabrook, and its cost would closely resemble the cost of renovating
the present school. Jon Himmel suggested that a second school might be built at Estabrook, used
as swing space and then the old school demolished when no longer needed. Other committee
members noted the difficulty of noise shielding between the two buildings, especially during
construction or demolition.
Executive Session was VOTED unanimously at 9:33 for the Town Manager to discuss financial
strategy with the PBC. The meeting did not return to open session and adjourned at 10:40 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Erna S. Greene, Secretary