A Sandy Hook construction firm and a Farmington architect group – both possessing expertise on senior facilities and swimming pool developments – were unanimously selected by the Board of Selectmen Monday evening to design and complete the first phase of pre-construction services on Newtown’s new community center complex.

Following an executive session on the matter, Selectman James Gaston moved the town hire Caldwell and Walsh of Sandy Hook to oversee Phase 1 construction management, and Farmington’s Quisenberry, Arcari Architects, LLC for design services. First Selectman Pat Llodra and Selectman Will Rodgers both supported the motion following a brief discussion.

Construction of that complex at Fairfield Hills, which is to incorporate a multi-pool “aquatic center” and a new senior center, is being underwritten by a $10 million grant from General Electric. Once completed, the facility will receive operating revenue of $1 million annually for five years as part of that corporate grant presented to the community following the Sandy Hook tragedy.

The motion authorized special appropriation of $450,000 to be designated for preconstruction services including those to be rendered by the two Connecticut firms. Once preconstruction documents, renderings and other materials are developed, Mrs Llodra said the authorization to spend the balance of $9,550,000 from the grant will go to public referendum.

She said that referendum could occur as early as March 17 or 19, 2015.

“Now we can start moving the process through our layers of government,” Mrs Llodra said, with a goal to have all necessary elements in place ahead of the public vote to spend the grant money – which is designated exclusively to develop and staff a new, completed community center, which could include senior services.

“We’re going to be putting this together in a way that is fully transparent and available to the public,” the first selectman vowed. She said representatives from Quisenberry, Arcari are meeting with seniors December 16 to begin collecting information to help inform preliminary designs of their part of the complex.

Public Building and Site Commission Chairman Robert Mitchell told The Bee that the choice of the firms followed a “long interview process.”

“They both come across as very knowledgeable about both senior centers and pool complexes,” Mr Mitchell said. “But equally important, they came across as firms that are happy to collaborate with the client and end users – they want to go out of their way to make it work.”

Rusty Malik AIA will be the lead for the Quisenberry, Arcari team on site.

With 29 years of diverse architectural experience, a firm bio states that Mr Malik brings a broad depth of experience and expertise in the programming, planning and design of a variety of municipal and commercial facilities. He is regarded as among the firm’s “most learned and client attentive” principals and design team leaders.

The architect is said to be expert at “planning challenging fast track schedules, safety oriented-construction phasing, and thoughtful, inventive design solutions all within the confines of tight-budgets.

“His intimacy and involvement in the projects he leads is unique in the industry and considered by numerous repeat clients as unparalleled in the State of Connecticut and the region,” his web bio states.

Quisenberry Arcari Architects was founded in 1994 by David Quisenberry and located in Marlborough. In 2002, Tom Arcari joined the firm as a partner and the name changed to Quisenberry Arcari Architects, LLC.

In 2005 the firm expanded its design-build offerings by absorbing the capabilities of a former independent subsidiary Clermont Construction under the Quisenberry Arcari brand.

Caldwell & Walsh was founded in 1983 and maintains offices in Sandy Hook and New York City.

According to the firm’s website, serving as construction manager, Caldwell and Walsh will act as the agent responsible for managing trade contractors and material purchases. It’s staff will procure competitive pricing from qualified subcontractors and suppliers, making selection recommendations based on qualification, cost and schedule. 

From the onset of design, construction manager preconstruction services include: project scheduling, project budget, develop cost management procedures, coordinate design comments, review and advise on constructability, value engineering, life cycle costing, develop bidding procedures, coordinate permit process, assist in public relations, generate bidder interest, expedite bid document delivery, conduct pre-bid conferences, and perform bid evaluations.

With nearly thirty years of industry experience, company President Mark Principi has completed hundreds of millions of dollars in projects, as he he oversees all operations including sales and marketing, preparation of estimates, contracts, schedules, strategy, project implementation and expedition.

He is also active locally and supports Ability Beyond, the Hunt Hill Farm Trust, the Lions Club, serves as a trustee on Newtown’s Cyrenius H. Booth Library board, and is a member of the American Society for Healthcare Engineering (ASHE).