Central Elementary School Building Project Update - May 6, 2024

Central Elementary School Building Project Update – May 6, 2024

 

The Town posted its “Request for Services” for an Owner’s Project Manager (OPM) on April 3, 2024 with a deadline of April 17, 2024.  The Town received submissions from ten firms by the deadline and the Selection Subcommittee, after reviewing these submissions, chose five firms to interview. The interviews were conducted at the Jr/Sr High School Library on Thursday, April 25, 2024 and, after the interviews were completed, the Selection Subcommittee decided to recommend LeftField, a firm specializing in project management, to the full Central School Building Committee. At its meeting on Tuesday, April 30, 2024, the Building Committee accepted the recommendation and voted to offer LeftField the contract to be the Owner’s Project Manager for the feasibility study and schematic design phase of the project.

 

One of the requirements for a project such as Central School is that the Town contract with a

firm to be the “Owner’s Project Manager” (OPM). The OPM works closely with the Building Committee as the focal point of responsibility and accountability on the project from the study and design stages through construction completion, start-up and commissioning. 

 

In addition to coordinating the work of the project participants, the project manager closely oversees the performance of the designer, the construction contractor and other project participants under contract; monitors the project budget and schedule; and maintains a central file of project records. 

 

The Building Committee will submit all necessary paperwork to the MSBA by May 8, 2024 with the expectation that the MSBA’s OPM Review Panel will approve this choice at its meeting on June 3, 2024. If approved, the Building Committee will then work with LeftField on the next step in the process which is to hire an architect/designer. This process will take several months including developing a Request for Services, a submission period, review of the submissions, interviews with finalists, an award of a contract, and approval by the MSBA.

 

Once an architect is hired, the Town, along with the architect, OPM and Building Committee, will begin the work on the feasibility study.

For more information about the Central Elementary School Project including the Feasibility Study Agreement and town vote to appropriate $1.5 million to cover the cost of the feasibility study and schematic design please visit the town website at https://www.eastbridgewaterma.gov/central-school-building-committee