Architects pare down PHS project to meet budget

$14 million in cost cuts should do the trick, board members say.

By: Jeff Milgram
   The Princeton Regional Board of Education’s architects have come up with some $14 million in cost-cutting measures — enough to bring Princeton High School’s renovation and expansion project in under budget, according to board members.
   "They’re very close to the budget," board President Charlotte Bialek said Monday.
   The board will vote tonight on the redesigned concept plan for the high school. Ms. Bialek said the savings estimates by The Hillier Group were confirmed by the board’s construction management firm, Epic Management.
   The original bids for PHS came in at $46 million. The board has never revealed the budget for the project for fear of influencing the bidding, but the work was initially estimated at about $38 million before the May 2001 referendum that approved $81.3 million in bonds to renovate and expand the district’s six schools.
   "We have confidence with the concept approval, that we will be able to get it down to our budget," Ms. Bialek said.
   In January, Hillier came before the board with over $15 million in cost savings. But the board was skeptical that some of those ideas would save as much money as Hillier thought. The board was especially skeptical that putting PHS and the John Witherspoon Middle School out to bid together would save a significant amount of money, Ms. Bialek said.
   "They assumed certain things," Ms. Bialek said. "We didn’t take their assumptions on the savings."
   The redesign is not significantly different from the one presented by Hillier in January, Ms. Bialek said. Most of the cost savings come from using more renovation and less new construction. Also, grouping the new construction in one side of the building permits it to be completed in one phase, shortening the construction schedule by about a year.
   Much of the new savings came from suggestions by Hillier’s mechanical engineers.
   One particular problem with the original bids came from the heating and air conditioning, which came in almost double the original estimate. Most of the building will be air-conditioned by using unit ventilators and not costly ductwork, Ms, Bialek said.
   The redesign virtually eliminated a large central courtyard, but does not reduce the space for the auditorium part of the performing arts center, although an art gallery and art classrooms have been moved.
   Some savings were realized by using some of the school’s existing boilers and a tunnel to access the boiler room.
   If the concept is approved tonight, Hillier will start work on the construction drawings. If everything goes smoothly, bids will go out in May, Ms. Bialek said.
   At its meeting Jan. 28, the board awarded contracts for the middle school and four elementary schools.
   In a related matter, the board also will vote tonight to go out to bid for a new synthetic turf for the PHS football field. The board hopes to complete the work over the summer.