Building Committee Introduces Construction Manager, Shares Project Update

The Burlington High School Building Committee has chosen a construction manager for the upcoming addition-renovation to BHS.

Consigli Construction, a family-run, employee-owned company headquartered in Milford, MA, was hired from a pool of six applicants to be the Construction Manager At Risk (CM at Risk) for the project, which is expected to go before Town Meeting in May.

Project Executive Bill O'Rourke highlighted Consigli's position as the leader in K-12 school construction in Massachusetts. While they work across many markets, said O'Rourke, school construction remains "truly the heart of who we are." The company has worked on many nearby high schools, including Attleboro, Waltham, and Arlington, which is just wrapping up now.

During their presentation, Consigli showed a video presenting how each phase of the building's construction will occur. The plan, which includes temporary bus loops, sidewalks, and parking areas, prioritizes student safety and minimizes disruption to school operations. The video and presentation from the meeting will be on the BHS Building Project website soon.

Christy Lyons, the Preconstruction Executive assigned to the project, described her job as managing the day-to-day operations during the two-year preconruction period and working to identify and mitigate potential sources of risk. This is especially important, she said, since BHS is a complex site that will be undergoing an occupied renovation.

Lyons, a Burlington High School graduate who holds a master's degree in architecture, has strong ties to the community. Her father previously served on the School Committee, her mother worked in central administration, and her sister currently teaches at Francis Wyman. And, she knows Burlington High School inside and out.

"I truly believe my Burlington education is what set me up for my career," said Lyons, citing teachers who encouraged her interest math and graphic design. "I'm beyond grateful for the opportunity to pay it forward for the new Burlington High School."

David Gould from Tappé Architects, the design firm that is working on the schematic design, shared some updates to the building's design features, including skylights, colored panels on the exterior of the Burlington Early Childhood Center preschool, and a wood look. "We're aiming to bring some natural wood elements into the project, rather than just concrete and brick everywhere," said Gould.

Terry Hartford from Owner's Project Manager, Dore & Whittier, then gave an update on the project's timeline.

Updated cost estimates will be presented at the next School Building Committee building on August 14, and then the team will present the project to the Select Board on August 15. The project will to before Town Meeting for a vote on project funding (pending a whole-town debt exclusion vote) in September, and if it passes there will likely be a special election in November to approve a debt exclusion.

At the July 17 Community Forum, School and Building Committee member, Christine Monaco, asked Hartford to explain what happens if the Town Meeting or debt exclusion vote fails.

"The building is 55-plus years old," said Hartford, "and it has all original mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems and they are all at end-of-life." Any project costing 30% or more of the assessed value of the building (which is currently $57 million) would require bringing the entire building up to code, "which is effectively renovating the entire building." The project team priced out renovation estimates as a part of this feasibility study; they came in at $330 million, which isn't too dissimilar from the cost of this proposed project.

"If it doesn't go forward," said Hartford, "the problem doesn't go away. It will be exacerbated if something fails and then you're forced to do something while the kids are still there."

The Budling Committee, along with the project management and design teams will be at several upcoming events to present the project and answer any questions from the community:

• 7/30: MSMS Parents Night
• 8/2 Town Day
• 8/6 Public Safety Night at Wegmans
• 8/21 Community Forum

The next High School Building Committee meeting will be on August 14, where the Committee will hear, and likely vote on, a proposed budget.