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- School Board Awards Bids for High School ProjectThe Mt. Lebanon School Board awarded bids for the construction of the high school project at the December 19, 2011, School Board meeting in a unanimous vote of 9-0. P. J. Dick Inc., the project construction manager, estimated bids for the project at $93,424,000. The total of the lowest base bids was $87,876,977—5.9% below estimates. The low bidder for general construction was Nello Construction of Canonsburg, Pennsylvania at $49,137,000. The following companies were awarded bids for the project:
General ConstructionNello Construction$49,173,000HVAC ConstructionMcKamish$14,947,000Plumbing ConstructionVrabel$4,771,200Electrical ConstructionFarfield$10,927,000Casework ConstructionReed Associates$1,148,800Fire ProtectionSimplexGrinnell$944,777Asbestos AbatementPrecision$6,077,000
Not taking any anonymous comments on this thread.The School Board took action on alternates to add classroom and lab casework, blown fiber-optic cable and operable windows for a total addition to the base bids of $111,800. Those numbers are included in the totals above for Nello, Reed Associates and Farfield. The expected length of the project is 48 months.
The awarding of the bids for the project caps six years of planning the new high school that will consist of new construction and renovated portions of the existing building for a total of 454,816 square feet. The building along Cochran Road will be completely renovated while maintaining the traditional exterior of Mt. Lebanon High School. The existing competition gym will be renovated into a new center court with the cafeteria integrated into this multi-level space, along with key student resources such as the media center, writing lab, math lab and activities office. All academic areas will intersect at this space, creating a vibrant school center. New fine art spaces and technology center will also be located near the core of the building. Thoughtfully designed student navigation patterns will connect these spaces throughout the complex. New construction will link the center court to a new academic wing that will house state of the art science labs and classrooms. A new student entry on Horsman Drive will anchor the back of the building. The auditorium and fine arts theatre will also undergo a complete renovation. A glass-enclosed bridge over Horsman Drive will connect center court with the new athletic field house that will hold a competition gym, two auxiliary gyms and a new eight-lane pool. New tennis courts will be built along Horsman Drive next to the building. There are currently 1800 students who attend Mt. Lebanon High School.A ground breaking ceremony for the high school will be held on Thursday, January 26, 2012, at 4:00 p.m. All are invited to attend.
http://www.mtlsd.org/highschoolrenovation/
Podcast is available at 2011/12/19 School Board Business Meeting
Mt. Lebanon school renovation work to begin next month
Mt. Lebanon awards construction contract
A photo of the "glass" bridge:
20 comments:
Two different numbers for Nello. Is that another typo?
I see we still haven't learned how to spell "groundbreaking" from the last time.
How many others can't sleep?
Elaine
Thank goodness. Now the real work begins to bring it in on time and on budget. Given the 4 yr timeline, 2 of my 3 kids will miss it completely but live through the construction. Oh well. I think it needs to be done and we all need to move forward. And by "all", I mean the School Board and the Commission too. You guys have to get in a room and talk to each other - regularly - for everyone's sake.
Dave Franklin
In a room open to the public.
Elaine
I got no sleep last night and am not looking forward to recording tonight's municipal budget meeting which will result in a second sleepless night. And a third. And a fourth...
Elaine
. . . more than four million Americans aged 55 to 64 . . . can't find full-time work. That number has nearly doubled in five years, according to U.S. Department of Labor figures in October.
The median household headed by someone aged 55 to 64 has $87,200 in retirement accounts and other financial assets, according to Strategic Business Insights' Macro Monitor database. Bill Hook
Any reason given why Precision got the asbestos contract when their bid was the HIGHEST of the three>
The residents of Mt. Lebanon are now committed to their Board's high school "renovation" project. Here are some numbers to consider:
The total of the awarded contracts is $87,988,777.00
Soft costs are "estimated" to be $20,666,000.00 (School Board figure)
Total Cost (soft costs + contract values): $108,654,777.00
The differential between the total cost shown above and the "magic number" of $113,300,000 is $4,645,223.00, or 4.28% of the total. Even if the "soft costs" are less the point is that there is very little margin for error.
Getting accurate information from the MLSD is a little like trying to measure the length of a bicycle whilst it is moving, and I reserve the right to reevaluate the numbers should they change, but I doubt if any changes would be large enough to alter the net conclusion. It would seem to me that the Board is placing a very large bet on an improving economy, a 5% windfall in property tax reassessments, and a cooperative Department of Education. For those of us who must pay the bill, we must see a 7.5% to 9% increase in salary over the next four years in order to pay for the new school/sports facility/community center and stay financially "even" - and that is an extremely conservative estimate.
Richard Gideon
Some observations that I would love to hear what other people think.
#1. The bids are at $87,876,977. Softcast were mentioned at $21,000,000+ in last night's discussion, bringing the total to $108,876,977+. I didn't hear any mentioned of the $900,000+ worth of cafeteria equipment discussed as being purchased off budget. Is it in or out. If its not in the bid that brings us to $109,776,977. Also so we can compare the buidling we have to the building we're getting lets add in the lost rifle range at $410,000 which the board is consdering adding out of the general fund at a later date. We're now at $110,186,977+.
Does anyone remember the elementary school renovations? Weren't we told they would be $40,000,000 plus $5,000,000 for a new HS pool. Remember what the projects ended up costing taxpayers without a pool. How about $54,000,000!
Does anyone believe that this project that former school board president Kubit PROMISED in his FAQ, would be under $95,000,000 believe this thing will be under $113.4 million in the end???
If you do... I have a bridge on Horsman Drive I want to sell you.
Speaking of bridges...
in the district announcement text regarding the awarding of the HS project this sentence can be found.
"A glass-enclosed bridge over Horsman Drive will connect center court with the new athletic field house that will hold a competition gym, two auxiliary gyms and a new eight-lane pool."
But earlier on the district site it states in the document below that #50 was accepted!
Substituting metal panels for glass doesn't sound like "A GLASS-ENCLOSED BRIDGE" to me!
Potential Project Cost Savings List for the High School Project - August 8, 2011
Cost Savings List
#50 Exterior at the Bridge - Substitute metal panels for glass.
Hmmm, does anyone know what this pig-in-a-poke really looks like???
Also, is the General Contractor responsible for tearing down and disposing of building C. Didn't hear it mentioned?
Giffen Good
I also heard Ms. Posti whine about district revenue shortfalls, poor investment returns, rising costs, etc. etc.
Does she think that ONLY the school district is suffering in this economic environment? I'm sorry, I just don't have any tears for teachers, or administrators that have gotten very reasonable pay raises, additional vacation days and have guaranteed pensions!
Giffen Good
Regarding the bridge. Lebodesign.net posted this regarding glas.
"Aesthetics: Incomplete
Architectural design should always include aesthetics as a criteria. The boldest and most interesting part of the design is the glass bridge that spans Horsman Drive and connects the athletic complex to the rest of the building. Adjacent to the bridge is the new rear entrance, which has looked very impressive in some of the renderings. Also of design interest is the large expanse of glass at the new pool that was shown in renderings. During the redesign process, it was stated that glass was replaced with metal panels in certain areas to save money. I recently requested the Board release before and after renderings of these major design areas that were changed. They have not yet done so. It is difficult to determine if these glass-to-metal changes are acceptable aesthetically, if the architects have not presented renderings that show the changes. As far as the rest of the design is concerned, the new long and low athletic building with its randomly-spaced slit windows, and the mostly repetitive façade of Building G (without the individual window sunscreens that were eliminated due to cost), it may simply be stated that beauty is in the eyes of the beholder."
I remember Celli producing a set of drawings showing the revision with metal panels. I'm pretty sure the bridge only had 3 or 4 windows and the rest was solid. I can't find those drawings on the district site now. Think the presentation was made at the last update.
Giffen Good.
"Like a bridge over troubled waters"...maybe they can play that at the groundbreaking ceremony??
Giffen Good,
Someone found the rendition of the "glass bridge." Not so much glass, as you pointed out. I added it at the bottom of the original post.
Elaine
Didn't Mr. Remely say the asbestos costs were WAY DOWN from the original estimate at a prior meeting?
What are we getting for $6,000,000 Mr. Remely?
John Ewing
I still find it funny that high school students need a bridge, glass enclosed or otherwise, to cross Horsman Drive. Don't they cross it today when they have tennis for gym class? My son is a Freshman at Central Catholic. My daughter will likely go to the Lebo in 2 1/2 years. My son catches city buses and trolleys and walks to Craig street all the time -- but our kids can't cross Horsman? Really? I know that the bridge is a done deal and this is needless ranting, but I just find it strange.
Teresa
What is really absurd is THE DISCUSSION regarding the rifle range. This project has been in the works for 6 years! Six years, two design, a community forum, a Citizens review and they can really in all seriousness sit "in the dark" and debate whether they want a rifle range, should it be in the renovation or should it be done later. Are these people stupid, nuts or just plain friggin' liars? Was it in the first bid? Why? If it wasn't why not? This isn't rocket science. They're building a school building and should have decided what should be in it before they starting designing it.
No, these fools... will design it, price it... and then debate what they want in it. Asinine, and now you know why they're short in next years budget by $2.4 million.
This one facet of the project exemplifies for me just how clueless the board and the administrators are concerning the whole project.
They're groping aimlessly on the building and on the budget - in the dark. Furthermore they don't have a clue that they're clueless!
Look at the announcement. They brag about a glass enclosed bridge. but look at the last drawing presented to the community here. if they see that as glass enclosed, don't let anyone on the board near sharp scissors. They might hurt themselves. !
I appreciate these people are our neighbors, volunteers, but please that doesn't mean everything they say is gospel. As taxpayers and fellow residents we are entitled to question all aspects of this project.
Dick Saunders
Teresa, they cross Washington and Cochran at the height of rush hour each and every day, twice a day in the rain, cold and snow. It has nothing to do with the welfare or safety of the students!
Its only there so they can build their athletic complex.
Dick Saunders
Personally I'm beginning to think they've spun so many stories they no longer have a grasp on the real truth.
The glass bridge is just one example.
Here's another from President Posti's blog.
"Good evening. Tonight, the Board will take action on accepting bids for the high school renovation project, a vote that has taken many years of planning, public input and deliberation. Most recently, the Board has worked with our staff, construction manager and architects to develop a number of cost reductions to allow us to successfully rebid the project after they came in over estimates in April. That six-month process required thoughtful, deliberate work on behalf of many of the people sitting here tonight and I wanted to take a minute to thank you."
Thoughtful, deliberate work! Yeah right! They just happened not to deliberate over or think about a $410,000 element of the project.
The $32,000 murals I can see debating. Not a big deal. Do we want them or let the students design them. The walls still exist with or without the murals.
But a complete area that's estimated to cost nearly a half million dollars to complete with no idea what purpose it will serve if it isn't. A space that they may want to "commit" a future board to finish from the general fund.
This really isn't funny... its bordering on criminal.
Giffen Good
Does anyone know how big the range is?
If they're shooting .22 cal. I'm guessing its at least 25 yards (or 75 feet) long in one dimension. Probably 10 feet minimum in the other. In other words, 750 sq. ft. of space. Thats about a classroom. Could you imagine them debating do we want 249 classrooms or 250 at this stage of the project?
Dick Saunders
I'm still left wondering how they can accept a bid on a building that isn't defined yet, and why they don't have to resubmit a final design to the township? Isn't that part of the conditional use approval process?
OK board I'll help you out.
From the Free Online dictionary:
en·close
(n-klz) also in·close (n-)
tr.v. en·closed also in·closed, en·clos·ing also in·clos·ing, en·clos·es also in·clos·es
1. To surround on all sides; close in.
Now can you please tell us this one simple fact. Is the bridge glass enclosed or not???
Come on, it really shouldn't be that difficult, you approved the bids. Don't you know? Or aren't you going to tell the people that are going to pay for it?
Ask Mr. Marciniak, Dr. Steinhauer they must know, right?
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