Date: Fri 22-Nov-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: DOTTIE

Quick Words:

schools-construction-projects

Full Text:

with cuts: Ecstacy And Agony: High School And Hawley Progress Reports

B Y D OROTHY E VANS

There was good news and not so good news last week concerning the construction

timetable for the town's two biggest school building projects at Newtown High

and Hawley School.

The two projects, which were approved by voters in June 1996 and which will

cost a total of $29 million to complete, are both well underway with plenty of

construction activity evident on the sites - but there the similarity ends.

When educators at the November 12 Board of Education meeting heard an update

on both projects from the architect, site manager and town building chairman,

these reports drew mixed reactions ranging from optimism to concern and

consternation.

Progress At The High School

The $25 million Newtown High School addition and renovation project, which

includes construction of a three story 74,000 square-foot addition on the

school's north side, renovations to existing sections of the building, a new

roof over part of the school, HVAC updates, a new half-gymnasium behind the

school, and construction of 100 more parking places, is on schedule.

It might even be slightly ahead of schedule, the town's building commission

chairman told the board.

"It's moving right along," said Public Building and Site Commission Chairman

Frank Krasnickas.

Mr Krasnickas said that "in 20 years, this is the first time I've seen steel

go up and fit the first time."

Now that the structural steel is in place, workers are pouring cement for the

elevated slabs, or floors, Mr Krasnickas said. Plumbing and electrical work is

also underway in the addition, and the sub-contractors have finished

installing electrical service in the boiler room area.

"We've got a head start for summer work," Mr Krasnickas said.

The addition will house a kitchen, servery, and cafeteria on the lower level,

11 classrooms and a large group instruction room on the main level, and 17

classrooms, science labs and a computer lab on the upper level.

He concluded with an estimation that the high school project would be

completed in May 1997 as planned.

The interior renovations to the present high school building that were begun

over the summer but halted while school is in session, will be completed as

soon as school ends in June.

Catch-Up At Hawley

The prospect for finishing the $4 million Hawley School addition on time (by

the beginning of August 1997) is not so promising, according to Mr Krasnickas.

"They have installed a new pathway to the playground that has no access to the

construction area," he said, adding that school officials were relieved to

have that safety precaution in place.

But no steel has gone up.

"They're installing the storm drains around the building and working on the

footings and walls. They hope to have the steel by the end of the month," Mr

Krasnickas said.

If bad weather interferes, they'll encapsulate the building in plastic, he

explained. Moisture accumulation inside the building might then be a problem,

however.

The bricks can't be laid on the outside walls until spring, he added.

"I will say they're making an effort, though, because they've got a second

shift on the job," Mr Krasnickas noted, referring to efforts by the

contractor, ACMAT, Inc. of New Britain, to meet construction deadlines.

Rusty Malek, the architect with New Britain architectural firm Kaestle Boos

Associates, Inc., that submitted the designs for both the high school and

Hawley projects, spoke to the board of his frustration at the lagging Hawley

project schedule.

"It seems the beginning of a job usually tells you how it's going to end up,"

he said, referring to the fact that ground wasn't broken until late September,

nearly a month later than planned.

He then mentioned the many letters he has had to write, "sometimes three or

four a day" to the contractor, enumerating what he called "holes in the

schedule."

"The contractor [ACMAT] says we're two weeks behind. I would be smiling if it

was that little!" Mr Malek said.

Despite his stated concerns, Mr Malek said the contractor continued to insist

the job would be completed on time.

"It hasn't been easy... a struggle all the way," Mr Malek said.

The one redeeming factor, he said, was the fact that ACMAT had retained "good

sub-contractors all the way."

Maurice Hoben, vice president of O&G Industries, Inc., the company that was

hired by the board to manage both projects, was in a similarly pessimistic

mood about the Hawley project outcome.

"We're spending three quarters of our time at Hawley. This may be a photo

finish, I'm afraid," Mr Hoben said.

School officials had hoped to have the 22,000 square foot Hawley addition

completed by the beginning of August in time for school opening after Labor

Day. It will include an auditorium, a new library media center and several

classrooms.

Redistricting plans call for moving approximately 110 students from the Sandy

Hook School district to the expanded Hawley School beginning in September

1997.