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10/02/2012 12:00 AMWith the initial construction date of next year getting closer and closer, the Guilford High School Building Committee (GHSBC) is whittling the wishlist down to a build list and, with about 80 percent of the plan finalized, the numbers are within five figures.
At a recent GHSBC meeting, the committee announced figures based on 80 percent design development. Ken Biega, project executive with the project's construction management company O&G Fusco, announced the current estimate of $92,258,903, compared to the referendum figure of $92,220,800.
"There's still a fair amount of work to be done," GHSBC Chairman Scott Pinckney said.
When the construction management company figures were first announced in the spring, the committee was nearly $2 million over the referendum budget at an estimated price of $94,696,606. After several meetings to identify what the building's most crucial needs are, the committee is estimated to be just more than $38,000 over target.
The GHSBC's approval on the estimated budget is pending based on reports from it architect Tai Soo Kim Partners and Atelier Ten, the school's energy consultant, on about five remaining "value engineering" items. There are currently nine items on the add/alternate list.
Superintendent of Schools Paul Freeman said he's confident in the project based on the numbers that were reported that evening. He explained that this budget is not set in stone and that the committee, along with its various consultants, are studying a number of add/alternate items before approving this budget.
"The budget's a little bit over at this point, but the committee hasn't accepted it until all of these answers come in," said Freeman.
Also reported at the meeting, TSKP architect Ryszard Szczypek reported that Atelier Ten agreed to eliminate the earth ducts and phase change material from the committee's Energy Efficiency Measures. There was a brief discussion on skylights in the new building, with a report coming in the near future. An acoustic report is also forthcoming.
There were also comments made about the front entrance of new high school and how the committee wants it to be designed.
"[For] the front entrance, we still want there to be something flashy, something cool, so when the students walk in, they think it's a cool building every time," Pinckney said.
"It's where visitors will go; it's where parents come during the school day to interact with teachers; it's where the community and people coming to look at the school will first go, so I think it's important?It does present the personality of the school," the superintendent added.
The committee also announced that it will hire an owner's representation.
The highly anticipated Design Document presentation by TSKP will take place on Tuesday, Oct. 9 at 7 p.m. at the Community Center.