Renovation Report: RSBC Meeting May 13, 2009

Highlights

• The latest estimate on the base cost of either B1 or B2 is about $32.57 million.
• RSBC made progress on prioritizing cost reductions. General agreement on a group of about $4.06 million of reductions.
• Town Administrator (Rich Kelliher) indicated that the allocation by the town of $26.4 million could rise to “somewhere in the $27 million range.”
• Representatives from the RSBC will be meeting with the MSBA on Friday, May 15^th to make sure the latest work on space assumptions, costing, programmatic considerations, site use, etc. meet with their approval. 
• Decision between B1 and B2 postponed until the next RSBC meeting next week on May 20^th, when the results of the MSBA meeting will be known.
• Landscape scenario presented that shows how outdoor spaces might be structured with a B1/B2 building footprint.

Meeting Notes

The meeting began with the architects showing the results of a design (Option E) and cost study they did at the request of the MSBA for the purpose of seeing whether it made sense to retain and reuse the existing kindergarten and first grade wings.  The design they showed was even more invasive of the limited outdoor space and was more expensive to build.  There was no further discussion related to Option E. 

Moving on, the RSBC studied the latest cost estimates for Option B, indicating that there are not material differences in the cost estimates between the original Option B, B1 and B2, which is to say, each would cost about $32.57 million to build.  When considering cost reductions to bring the project closer to the amount the Town Administrator believes can be allocated, the architects looked in the areas of Program Reductions, Building Systems Reductions, Site Reductions and Building Equipment Reductions. These recommendations are not final—they provide a guideline to the conversations that are still ahead with MSBA. There will be significant changes still to come. 

The Program Reduction recommendations accepted by the Committee consist of combining the RED home bases with other small group spaces, omitting lockers and changing areas from Locker Rooms (but retaining bathrooms), and reducing the size of the gym from 6,000 to 5,4000 square feet leaving us with the choice between having a standard sized high school basketball court or having spectator seating (not both).  These programmatic reductions represent 4,100 square feet and $1.26 million of cost savings.

The Building Systems Reduction recommendations accepted by the Committee consist of staying with a system of unit ventilators rather than moving to a fully ducted central system, as well as using unit ventilators in any new classrooms.  Also recommended was the use of metal stud construction rather than concrete masonry in areas of new construction.  Together these building systems reductions represent about $2.04 million of cost savings.

Finally, in the area of Building Equipment Reductions, since the town has maintained a program of replacing computers, desks and other loose furniture every year, the Committee determined that it would decrease the budget for brand new computers and furniture required in the new building by $760,000.  This means that instead of purchasing new furniture for 80% of students they would purchase new for only 35% of students and reuse existing furniture and computers for the rest.  (It is important to keep in mind that these items will continue to be replaced according to their existing, non-renovation-budget-related schedules.)

Together these cost reductions amount to $4.06 million.  When subtracted from the base cost of $32.57 million, this leaves a total revised cost of $28.51 million.  This still leaves a gap to be worked on, but represents good progress as the RSBC goes into its May 15^th meeting with the MSBA.

Ed. Note: Once the cost documents are updated to reflect the consensus reached at the May 13th meeting, we will post them here.

The architects also presented a list of “add-backs” which would increase the cost of the project.  The Committee agreed that the priorities on this list, should the contractor bids allow, are: a hardwood floor for the gym, rather than composite athletic flooring; air-conditioning for the multi-purpose room; new turf field and surfacing for the outside play spaces; and plantings and irrigation systems.  These together represent $380,000 of additional cost.

A note about air-conditioning…the Committee made clear that, consistent with all other schools in the district, there is no thought of installing building-wide air-conditioning at Runkle.  Also consistent with other schools, the library, computer lab, nurse’s and administration offices will be air-conditioned.  The only additional space under consideration for air-conditioning is the multi-purpose room, and only if the total cost picture will allow. Future refinements in the architectural drawings will show proposed enhancements to the building’s insulation and windows/ventilation systems that will attempt to mitigate the very hot conditions during warm weather on the upper floor.

Finally, the architects showed drawings comparing the current outdoor play spaces to those that would remain after the B1/B2 building is built.  THE DESIGN TEAM EMPHASIZED THE VERY PRELIMINARY NATURE OF THE DETAILS INDICATED ON THESE DRAWINGS. 

Current:              Proposed:  

The current total play space is about 46,750 square feet.  (This does not include areas on the Druce Street side of the building.)  The areas remaining after a B1/B2 footprint building is built would be about 30,600 square feet.  The architect’s design shows these spaces divided into: a large lower field (same as existing) separated from a 5000 square foot hard surfaced area next to the back of the building by a 6’ retaining wall (with stairs and ramps to connect them).  It shows a 3800 square foot basketball court running along the Dean Road side of the property.  There are also two smaller spaces, one of about 4200 square feet in the area of the current swings, and one of about 2400 square feet which would be created in the area now taken by the path from Chesham Road to the back door of the kindergarten wing. These spaces, taken together, represent about a 35% reduction in total space.  The cost of grading, building retaining walls and connecting the spaces with stairs and ramps, is included in the base cost of the project.  What is not (yet) included is money for equipment, safety surfaces, plantings, etc.

If B1 is chosen there also exists the possibility of building play space on the roof of the kindergarten wing. This is a common space-maximizing solution in many urban schools and the Committee plans to investigate this option.

Next Steps

The RSBC will meet on Wednesday, May 20th at 8:30 (Town Hall). They are planning to finalize the selection of either B1 or B2 at that time.  Once this selection is made, the design team will further refine the drawings to reflect the square footage agreed to with the MSBA.  

Please use the comment field below to share your views.  For further background on the project, see previous Renovation Report posts here.