From the High School Building Committee

For publication in the Wayland Town Crier on Sept. 10, 2009

Contact: Lea Anderson (lea@anderson.name)

HSBC Update

The HSBC met on September 3^rd to review cost estimates and continue developing the project budget. The team must submit the project scope and budget to the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) on September 8^th, in preparation for a vote at the September 30^th MSBA Board meeting.

The team completed a Schematic Design last month, which was used to prepare two independent cost estimates. This design, which is not finalized and will continue to be refined and modified, assumes 159,000 square feet of new construction. The target square footage approved by the MSBA is 154,350. Steve Millington, project architect from HMFH, will continue to work to reduce the square footage to the target.

The design also makes many conservative assumptions about the reuse of existing equipment and furnishings, and allowances for items that might later be reduced or deleted. This was done to make sure that everything necessary is included in the cost estimates and to arrive at a not-to-exceed budget. Value engineering (i.e. finding cost reduction opportunities) has begun and results will be presented at future meetings.

The two cost estimates were prepared by KV Associates (KVA), owner’s project manager, and by PMC, the architect’s independent estimator. Frank Vanzler and David Saindon of KVA reported that the two cost estimates were very consistent and had been nearly reconciled. They will be ready by the September 8^th deadline.

Eric Sheffels, HSBC member, Finance Committee appointee and president of Leggat McCall Properties, a commercial real estate development and project management firm, raised several questions during a detailed review of the cost estimates:

· Do both estimates agree on the quantities of materials to be used?

· Are the unit price cost assumptions reasonable?

· Is there a sensible contingency allowance?

· How do the estimates compare to other school projects?

After much discussion, the HSBC concluded that both estimates were well done, in that there are no gaps or holes and each line item had been considered carefully. Unit prices and contingencies are reasonable. Assumptions made to develop the estimate are rational.

The HSBC voted unanimously to submit a not-to-exceed budget of $82.5 million. This budget will form the basis for discussions with MSBA (likely the week of September 14th) about which costs are eligible for reimbursement. Some items, such as the wastewater treatment plant and demolition of existing structures, may be ineligible.

The next meeting of the HSBC is scheduled for Thursday, September 17, 2009 at 7:00 pm in the School Committee conference room on the second floor of the Wayland Town Building. The community is invited to all HSBC meetings. Information is available on the HSBC website at www.waylandschoolcommittee.org/whs/hsbc/index.htm and at the Wayland Public Library.