Central Community School Sysytem Approves Construction Directive

Submitted by Delia Taylor

The Central Community School Board has authorized PBK Architects to issue a construction change directive for the new Central Intermediate and Middle schools that are currently under construction.

The directive, which was authorized at a special board meeting Wednesday night, allows the contractor to proceed with the timely construction project while costs associated with changes in the construction designs are reviewed by the project’s engineers, architects and contractors.

The cost of the changes have not yet been determined, although the contractor has submitted a letter to the board requesting additional time and noting increased material costs that, combined, are estimated at more than $800,000.  Much of the estimated cost increase, approximately $500,000, is attributable to an escalation of steel prices.

It is uncertain if those estimates are actual costs and who will be responsible for paying them. 

Central School Board Chairman Jim Gardner noted that the project’s architect, contractor and steel fabricator agreed that a redesign of the structural steel specifications for the two schools was needed to improve the constructability of the designs. 

PBK Architects recommended that the board approve the directive to allow the project to continue moving forward “without any additional delays,” noting that the construction directive was an option available to the board and in accordance with the contract.

The board’s unanimous vote enables Arkel Anderson Joint Venture, the project contractor, to move forward on the fabrication of the structural steel needed for construction of the two new schools.

"The school board's action was necessary to give our architects some additional time to thoroughly review information before making a recommendation to the Board about any change orders for the re-design," Gardner said.

PBK is expected to conclude its review of documentation of the changes made to the structural steel designs and make any recommendations to the full board by early March.