ThisWeek CW 12/23/2014
http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/canalwinchester/news/2014/12/19/state-negotiated-contract-architects-for-new-high-school-will-be-paid-4m.html
The Groveport Madison Board of Education agreed unanimously Dec. 10 to approve a $4,105,221 agreement with VSWC Architects of Mason to design a new high school.
The cost was negotiated by the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission, which is responsible for guiding capital projects for Ohio’s comprehensive public K-12 school construction and renovation program.
The OFCC, working with district officials and VSWC representatives, also selected Smoot Construction as the project construction manager and is negotiating a final cost with that company.
The school board agreed in September to participate in the first segment of the Ohio School Facilities Commission (OSFC) Classroom Facilities Assistance Program as part of a master plan for the district’s buildings. It involves the design and construction of a new high school using more than $25 million in local funds from a voter-approved levy in May and $28.3 million from the state for a total of $53.4 million.
VSWC Architects project representative Chris Dumford said Smoot Construction was chosen after “a thorough process of written submission and face-to-face interviews.”
He said the builder will be “part of the design phase and we look forward to them starting very soon.
“We’ll continue to meet with design team and we’re looking to initiate site investigations with Smoot, like the site survey and geologic investigations, doing boring to see what’s going on below you,” he added.
Dumford told the board planning is on schedule for the construction of the new high school. He said the design team has been working to finalize the “program,” which is the first phase in determining what space will be necessary for classrooms and other facilities.
“We’ve had two community gatherings and another two design team meetings, and a construction meeting,” Dumford said. “There was good participation from the audience and that will be factored by the design team.
“We’re now into the phase of programming where we develop a list of spaces and the size of those in square feet for the high school; this is scheduled to be completed by March 1,” he said.
He said he anticipates being able to share some diagrams with the board in January.