School committee approves Forest Avenue schematic design and updated renovation budget

Justin Bernard, project manager for Colliers, presented the completed schematic design package for the Forest Avenue Elementary School renovation and an updated cost estimate at the Middletown School Committee's July 16 meeting. Bernard said the schematic scope includes restroom renovations; replacement of exterior windows; unit ventilator replacement; HVAC and dehumidification for the 1994 wing; a new water service for a fire sprinkler system; lower-level flooring replacement with moisture mitigation; a new, code-compliant ADA elevator; miscellaneous ADA improvements and a new monument sign.

Bernard told the committee that Colliers' initial schematic estimate is $7,460,000, up from a previous $6.3 million planning target but still below the $9,200,000 provided for the project in the memorandum of agreement. "The elevator itself is a couple $100,000, but the infrastructure and the adjustments for the stairs around it and the foundation, it's over half $1,000,000," Bernard said, identifying the elevator and the sprinkler service as the largest drivers of the increase.

Committee members emphasized doing the work correctly during this construction phase to avoid greater costs later. Chair Greg Hewitt and other members said that once floors and walls are opened for mechanical and ADA work, it is the appropriate time to address accessibility and code issues. A motion to approve the school building committee's schematic drawings for the Forest Avenue renovations was moved and approved by the committee.

The superintendent then brought forward a separate motion to approve the updated project budget reflecting the new estimate. The committee voted to approve the updated budget. Committee members noted the schematic package and the updated budget were reviewed by the school building committee and by the district's construction manager and third-party estimator prior to the vote.

Next steps discussed included continuing coordination with the School Building Authority and other stakeholders, pursuing remaining funding opportunities, and moving from schematic design toward implementation planning. The committee did not record a roll-call vote tally in the meeting transcript; the motion outcomes were recorded as passed during the meeting.