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Saturday, February 4, 2017
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Is this the future of Westport’s new Jr/Sr High School?
Is
this the future of Westport’s new Jr/Sr High School? EverythingWestport.com Saturday, February 4, 2017 Above and below: Longmeadow High School,
just outside of Springfield, MA. Photos courtesy of OMR Architects Two town boards and one
committee voted unanimously December 22nd of last year to move forward with
local architect Jonathon Levi’s design for a preferred schematic solution involving
a 185,600 square foot new building to be built on the site of the now derelict,
PCB-plagued Middle School that has already cost town taxpayers over $3
million to remedy, but failed to satisfy EPA guidelines. Now, in a last minute nod to
cost-sensitive town taxpayers who may balk at approving $95.2 million in
construction costs, the Jr/Sr School Building Committee
is requesting an in-depth review of the MSBA’s (Massachusetts School Building Authority) “model school program,” a
relatively new concept where a community can elect to use the architectural
plans and actual construction experiences of a recently built school building
that used MSBA funding, and that MSBA and the committee believes might work for Westport. This judicious approach can
save millions in architectural fees and up to $2 million in construction
costs based on experiences working with known materials, and avoiding the unforeseen
obstacles encountered by the contractors of the model school, thereby
avoiding costly change orders. Above, left: proposed custom-built
school layout. Above, right: Longmeadow High School “model” school building. Both
designs incorporate two floors. Orange color blocks out portion of Longmeadow
School not needed in Westport design. At this year’s January 18th meeting Owner Project Manager (OPM) Dan Taveres said the
committee should take a long, hard look at the Longmeadow High School, located
just outside of Springfield, which the MSBA has offered
up as a model school that may work for Westport without substantially compromising
the functionality of a custom-built building. Sounds interesting but will
it work for Westport? When asked why now, after custom
designing and approving a new school design (with the accompanying costs),
the committee should consider a model school, Taveres
said that because the committee arrived at a new school solution, they (MSBA) automatically went and looked at the model options now
available and narrowed it down to the Longmeadow school. “We like where were going
but it’s in your best interest to explore the model school for potential cost
savings.” Taveres said, “We had asked to be part of the model school program. You
can’t be considered for the model school until you get to this preferred schematic
design meeting to talk about it. They (MSBA) now
have confirmed with us that we can do that. We are asking for them to consider because there are a lot
of potential cost savings. We have to explore all that and come to a decision.
We’re just trying to cover all of our bases... and make sure we end up with the most
cost-effective design that meets our educational program requirements.” - Committee Co-Chair Diane Barron. Selectman
Antone Vieira Jr. said that he would be in favor of
the cost savings a model school adaptation might bring noted at the Jan. 18
SBC meeting that such a savings could mean the difference for taxpayers who
are unsure if they want to vote in favor of it or not. Based
on the made-to-order model designed by Levi, it would cost an estimated $95.2
million. With the state funding roughly 46 percent, the town would be funding
the balance, about $56 million. “It ( decision) is not truly based on numbers, it’s not
based on style, there’s really a lot of factors that come into it, but we
also promised the taxpayers of this community we would look at every possible
option... long and tedious though it
may be, but it’s our due diligence to this community. - Committee Co-Chair Tracey Priestner Westport
officials were scheduled to meet with the Longmeadow School’s architect to
discuss possible modifications and the practicalities of adapting their
design to meet Westport school officials’ needs. “The
model school is just going to allow you to move forward a little quicker in
the process; one thing that is does, it jumps you from schematic design right
into construction documents,” Taveres told the committee. “So you save about four months of time.. you save some money not having to produce another set of cost
estimate documents, and it gets you in the ground a little quicker Your saving five percent of the fees and
your gaining five percent incentive points,” Taveres
added. There
is also a two percent incentive point(s) for sustainability designs, and 1.3
percent on maintenance credits based on all the information that has been
submitted previously. Selectmen
Antone Vieira Jr. said savings on the level talked
about with the model school concept could make a difference with taxpayers as
the town boards seek town meeting approval followed by registered voters at
the ballot box. The
School Building Committee is planning to meet on Wednesday, February 8th to share
information from the Longmeadow’s architect with a likely site visit, and
possibly make a decision whether or not to switch to the model option. This “long and tedious” process that requires the town to spend money
to save money could be a concept that might work for the school district. Time will tell. © 2017 Community Events of
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