Racine Unified presents $21.3 million Walden 3 renovation; GMP set at $15.7 million

Administration presented the guaranteed maximum price and total project budget for renovation work at Walden 3 Middle and High School and said the item will be scheduled for board approval at the district’s February business meeting.

The presenter reported the GMP — the construction portion of the contract — is $15,726,764 and the total project budget is $21,266,220. Planned work includes a new main office with a secure vestibule, elevator access, upgraded classrooms (tile, lighting, casework), renovated accessible bathrooms, infrastructure upgrades, waterproofing at a garden level that has experienced water infiltration, and structural reinforcement beneath the parking-lot area behind the building. The presenter said contingency allowances are included and that any budget increases required by unforeseen conditions would be returned to the board for approval.

Board members asked whether the project included air conditioning components; administration replied that air-conditioning elements are part of the project scope. Several members expressed concern that opening an older building can reveal additional problems and questioned whether contingencies were sufficient. Administration replied that the contingency is adequate for now and pledged to notify the board and return for additional approvals if unknown conditions require a budget increase.

The board chair confirmed the item will be brought to the business meeting for a formal vote in two weeks.

Provenance: topicintro SEG 032; topfinish SEG 103.