Jones Whitsett Architects provided a rendering of the new Longmeadow Middle School entrance at the Middle School Building Committee meeting on Aug. 5.
Photo credit: LongmeadowTV
LONGMEADOW — The Longmeadow Middle School Building Committee is inching closer to the start of construction on the new middle school after unanimously approving to submit 90% of design documents into the Massachusetts School Building Authority for consideration.
The committee held a special meeting on Aug. 5 to approve the MSBA submission, which needed the documents before the week of Aug. 10.
Jones Whitsett Architects Principal Kristian Whitsett said at the July 8 meeting that completing 90% of designs is a major milestone and includes 507 sheets of drawings and 3.254 pages of specifications.
The drawings cover floor plans and are duplicated to include more details, such as electrical, lighting, alarm systems and technology. This is the last step before construction is set to begin in September, which will continue until fall 2028’s move-in.
“[The 90% submission] is really exciting because this is our last, kind of, this is our last submission that they review,” Whitsett said. “This is the last one that goes in with a binder, and kind of all the other supplemental documentation. They do get our final bid set in September, but that’s final and it’s just for their records. We’re very close to that bid step being complete, and again as you’re all well aware, the construction is underway at the same time.”
Whitsett covered the schematic design estimated budget of $118,909,700 — the targeted cost and the cost approved by the MSBA. The project’s total budget is $151,594,774, which Whitsett said has been maintained throughout the project.
The 90% construction documents after reconciliation estimated the cost at $118,200,224, with around $700,000 under the schematic design estimates. Whitsett said the $700,000 difference is good news and “super encouraging.”
A rooftop photovoltaic system that converts sunlight into electricity is included in an “alternates” section, which is estimated to cost between $1.5 to $1.7 million.
The alternates section lists separate prices for adding, removing or changing parts of the work, and Whitsett said he is optimistic the system will be included in bid packages.
Committee Chair Armand Wray asked when the photovoltaic system should be added into the project, and Whitsett said it would happen after the final numbers and the 100% bids go out. Whitsett also said it will have to be done before the guaranteed maximum prices are settled with Fontaine Bros., the project’s construction manager.
Fontaine Project Executive Jason Boudreau said 100% of construction documents are coming at the end of September, and the filed sub-bids and non-trade bids at the end of October. He said it will be the first telltale sign of a “good pulse” to add the system in.
Wray asked “at what point do we feel comfortable there’s no big surprises with the new building, understood we have no idea what happens when we take down the old building,” and if most of the site work will be done.
Boudreau said a lot of the site work will be done, and that most of the “unknowns” for the new building and property will hopefully be uncovered.
Project updates as they are posted can be found at longmeadow.k12.ma.us/school-committee/middle-school-building-project.
