Colegrove School Project on Budget, But Not on TimeBy Tammy Daniels, iBerkshires Staff
02:49AM / Tuesday, July 21, 2015 | |
 Copper flashing is being installed around the top of the building. Exterior work has moved to the east side of the building. |
 Retaining walls outline the new playgrounds and entrance areas at Colegrove Park Elementary School. |
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The new elementary school continues on budget — if not on time.
Colegrove Park Elementary School is supposed to be "substantially complete" by Wednesday but officials say it's months from being ready.
"They are clearly several months at best until completion," Kenneth J. Guyette of Strategic Building Solutions/Colliers International, the owner's project manager, told the School Building Committee on Monday. "We've been bombarded with a number of very large potential change orders within the last two weeks with a lot of time requested off that.
"That's what we're discussing with the city and the architect how to get through that issue."
The city was notifed in May that the $29.7 million renovation of the old Drury High School would likely not be ready for opening this fall. General contractor PDS Engineering & Construction Inc. had initially set a new date of Aug. 16, but that date is no longer viable.
School officials plan to begin the school year with the new redistricting in place; Colegrove pupils will start the year at Sullivan School. In the last walkthrough, Mayor Richard Alcombright said it could be the first of the year before the school opened, to give time for teachers to move into their classrooms.
The main issue for the city's officials and design team has been the lack of manpower onsite, which they believe is causing delays and putting the schedule behind. Schedules have not been adhered to and a "legitimate recovery" plan has not been forthcoming, they say.
"Manpower continues to be flat," said Guyette
Member Ronald Superneau, who has repeatedly voiced his displeasure with the company, said the penalty spelled out in the contract may not be an incentive to bring more crews on.
"They're going to end up paying more for overtime than they would the $1,000 a day they're going to be charged by us," he said.
The $1,000 a day penalty that begins on Thursday is spelled out in the contract; the penalty would be deducted from the cost of the project.
Superneau asked that a representative from the contractor appear at the next meeting and suggested the School Committee should also attend.
A representative had been expected to attend Monday's meeting.
Superintendent James Montepare, running the meeting in the mayor's absence, said there will be costs incurred by the city because it will have to keep Sullivan open for several more months.
While the committee has been unhappy with the speed of the project, it is has been complimentary about how well the work is being done. Progress is being made, albeit slower than anticipated.
"When it's done it's going to be nice," Superintendent James Montepare, running the meeting in the mayor's absence, said. "And even the work that was done from last week to this week ... it's going to be beautiful."
The interior is nearing completion with the third floor the farthest along — lights and fixtures are being installed. Light shelves — interior units designed to bounce light off the ceiling — are being put in and the first mockup of an exterior sunshade was installed.
While the ground floor needs the most work, the kitchen and dishroom are nearly done; bathrooms are also being tiled.
Major ductwork has started and two HVAC units are set to go on the roof in the next two weeks, although the committee thought that optimistic. Masons are now working on the east side of the building - including the old Drury wall, gym and new elevator shaft.
Windows and window trim, including Corian windowsills, are still going in, and the installation of roof parapets and copper flashing are ongoing.
The original terrazo tile is being refurbished along with the wood floors.
The most visible change at this point is the excavation and the concrete footings and walls for the playground and main entrance area on the south side.
"We're doing really well on change orders," Guyette said. "Right now over 90 percent are eligible for reimbursement by the MSBA. Right now, we are tracking on budget."
The Massachusetts School Building Authority has been frequently onsite but has stayed out of any dealings over delays, saying it's a city issue, he said.
"They love the project, they really do," Guyette said. "It's a showpiece because there aren't that many historic projects."
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