NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Greylock School project remains under budget by more than $1 million.

 

The School Building Committee last week voted to submit the 90 percent design package for the $65 million project to the Massachusetts School Building Authority with costs supplied by independent estimators. 

 

"You'll remember that we locked in with the MSBA with their budget at the end of schematic design, and we entered into the project funding agreement," said Timothy Alix of Colliers International, the owner's project manager. "So we're always double checking to make sure that we're tracking on budget. ...

 

"Not a whole lot has changed as far as what the estimators would expect to see in the documents. So the numbers didn't really shift around too much. We were under budget at 60 percent and we continue to be under budget for the construction portion at the 90 percent so things are looking good."

 

"Again, these are cost estimates," said Jesse Saylor of designer TSKP Studios. "So depending on the bid results we get, that's really what will be more important. ... The project may not choose to use those funds, or it may find a need for them, but by the end of the project, and you could decide what to do with them. You can you can keep them. You don't have to spend them at the end of the day."

 

Saylor reminded the committee that the alternate roof screening had been added into the base budget. 

 

"The one alternate that we're holding is the pickleball and basketball courts," he said. "I suppose the value that we're under budget could allow us to incorporate those as part of the base part of the project."

 

He was cautious on recommending that because he said the project may have to switch to horizontally drilled geothermal wells, a less typical method. 

 

"Our hope is that it does follow our estimate, but we don't have as many price points to build the value for what that will cost," he said. "In fact, we're considering an alternate for shallow, vertical geothermal wells that would protect the project in the case that we do not receive the bids that we expect to receive for the horizontal directionally drilled wells."

 

Alix said alternates have to be placed in order of priority on the bid forms.  

 

"So you have to give that some thought as to really what's most important as your first alternate going through," he said. "The good thing about having some add alternates is that, as Jesse mentioned, if the bids don't come in the way the estimate is anticipated ... that does give us the the flexibility to add that into the project."

 

On the other hand, if the bids come in too high, they would not be able to sign a contract, he said. "we'd have to look at maybe reducing contingency before we even started anything."

 

Committee member Richard Alcombright was against any reduction in contingency funds, currently listed at about $2.7 million. The courts would "add to the flavor" of a community park, but he didn't think they should be included.

 

"I would immediately kind of be very much opposed to reducing contingency so you know," he said. 

 

The committee voted to submit the 90 percent design and authorized the spending of $10,750 to do more testing for horizontal wells. 

 

Alix also went over the prequalification process and noted some categories were lacking in potential bidders. 

 

"We want to make sure that we maximized our ability to get as many bids as we could," he said. "So we went back out and advertised again for general contractors, sprinkler fire protection trade, the mechanical and and plumbing trade, and those are due on the 30th, so we'll see if we pick up any additional firms."  

 

The goal has been to get five or six firms in each category in hopes of getting multiple bids. Alix said the bidding is competitive and firms are trying to lock down work as the tariffs are making everyone a little nervous. 

 

"We should hopefully try and wrap it up in about three weeks  ... come up with a list of our firms that are would be allowed to bid on the project," he said. 

 

Saylor asked the committee to consider signage, illustrating the name on the main crossbeam on the school's facade and on a standalone sign of wood posts. Neither found any particular support. 

 

Mayor Jennifer Macksey was an immediate thumbs down on the standalone sign and Alcombright said it reminded him of organ pipes. Connie Tatro, though, said, "I love it."

 

Superintendent Timothy Callahan added that an electric sign had been ruled out.

 

"It would date the location very rapidly, and it would look, for lack of a better word, tacky in the community, even if it was up to date," he said, adding he liked Saylor's minimalist design rather than something "really ostentatious."

 

Saylor said he'd come up with some other options and asked the committee to consider if there were school colors and if the school will retain the Greylock name. 

 

The documents have a placeholder for the Appalachian Trail kiosk that will be on the southern end of the site along Phelps Avenue, separating it from school activities. It will have a charging station, wi-fi access and a bench. Macksey said any further development will be done after meeting with the Appalachian Trail people.

 

The committee set its next meeting for Aug. 19.