Building Panel Poised To Approve

NMS Roof Work

By Eliza Hallabeck

The Public Building and Site Commission is scheduled to approve the Newtown Middle School roof project to go to bid as overseen by Kaestle Boos Associates, Inc, at its next regularly scheduled meeting, March 22. The firm’s representatives explained the project to the commission February 22.

After a discussion between the commission and representatives of Kaestle Boos, the Public Building and Site Commission’s ad hoc committee overseer for the project, Robert Edwards, provided an overview of what the commission would like to see from the firm at its next meeting.

“We’ll come up with the alternates that make some sense so you know exactly what these things cost,” said Kaestle Boos principal Chuck Boos.

One issue that came before the commission regarded covering one of the three skylights in the school’s cafeteria. Mr Boos said covering the skylight would prevent snow piling in the space due to wind drifts.

However, Mr Boos added, “It is an architectural feature that is really important for the space.”

 Mr Boos also addressed adding a heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system to the space for an estimated cost of $243,000.

“I think, with regard to the skylight issue, my personal opinion, removing that skylight for the reasons you suggested is a positive thing,” said commission member Anthony D’Angelo, noting that he supports the addition of a HVAC system for the space, at least to see what the cost would be.

Mr Edwards also said he liked the ideas for two skylights rather than three and adding a HVAC system to the space as an alternate for the project.

“I’m of the feeling I would like to use the two skylights as the base bid,” said Mr Edwards.

The commission also discussed adding some fencing to the middle school roof to prevent students from climbing on the building, and requested Kaestle Boos list synthetic slate shingles for an extra $30,000 as an alternate to the project.

Adding fencing, Mr Boos said, was only one idea the firm came up with to prevent students from accessing the roof.

Mr Boos also reported adding a photovoltaic, or solar power, system to the school’s roof cannot be billed as part of project, and said he does not know if funding from the Clean Energy Fund will offset the costs. A photovoltaic system could always be added to the building after the project, he said.

Calculating in his head, Mr Edwards said the added items would have the project coming in at $1.7 million, after reimbursements. Without reimbursement Mr Edwards estimated the cost would be $2 million.

In December the projected cost for the project was $1.6 million, but at the time Mr Edwards warned the number could change as the project moved forward.

Mr Edwards and fellow Public Building and Site Commission member Thomas Catalina said they will meet with representatives of Kaestle Boos weekly to discuss the project further before the commission’s March 22 meeting.

Mr Boos said he would like to see the project go out to bid by mid-April. Work on the project is expected to begin at the start of the school’s summer break, and will need to be completed for the start of the school year when students will have use of the space.