After some discussion, the Public Building & Site Commission, during its special meeting on Wednesday, November 12, approved the Phase 4 documents for the Sandy Hook School construction project.

The approval paves the way for that portion of the project to go out to bid.

“The big news is that we were at the Office of School Facilities at the state this morning for a final review of the Phase 4 construction documents package,” said Diversified Project Management’s Geralyn Hoerauf. “We did receive approval at that meeting.”

The news was met with a small round of clapping from the PB&S.

Ms Hoerauf said the Office of School Facilities reviewed the documentation and “found no missing pieces.” She also informed the commission that the official letter authorizing the project to go out to bid was received around 4:30 pm on Wednesday, just a few hours before PB&S’s special meeting.

According to a September 16 presentation to the Board of Education by Ms Hoerauf, Consigli Construction’s Aaron Krueger, and Svigals + Partners’ Julie McFadden, Phase 4 of the project will focus on building construction.

Ms Hoerauf acknowledged Ms McFadden’s work with revisions to the plans during reviews, “so that it would pass at the state level,” Ms Hoerauf said.

The revisions, according to Ms McFadden, included most of the comments from the review, and there are a few other items that will be delivered to Consigli Construction before bids are open.

One item Ms McFadden highlighted is an egress issue. The central lobby of the school is set to have two open stairs, and in the original plan, Ms McFadden said enclosed stairs at the end of the wings were planned. While an application was submitted to allow the open stairs to be used for egress, Ms McFadden said it was rejected because of a state amendment. Instead of using the open stairs, Ms McFadden said a horizontal egress was added to the plans.

“They said it meets code,” said Ms McFadden, adding the issue will continue to be reviewed.

Mr Krueger told the PB&S the bids will be ready to be announced by next week, with bids expected to be back by mid-December.

“So now we come to this board and ask for the same authorization to proceed to bid Phase 4,” said Ms Hoerauf.

The commission unanimously approved the Phase 4 documents.

Other updates were shared with the commission during the special meeting, including a change of plans for a water line on the Sandy Hook School property that also feeds the Senior Center, and current work being done on the site.