In early October, site work was right on schedule as laborers were well into phase one of the Taunton High School/Parker Middle School addition at 50 Williams Street in Taunton, MA.
The team of Bacon and Agostini are on site as the construction managers for the renovations. The two companies have teamed up with Gilbane Building Company, which is providing program management services for the multiphase additions and renovations. Gilbane is in charge of all construction oversight and coordination.
The project, which broke ground in July, consists of renovations to the existing 496,503-square-foot, three-story high school and middle school building, including bringing it up to code, adding sprinklers and installing seismic bracing in the event of an earthquake. The project will also include a new 62,365-square-foot, three-story middle school addition as well as site work, utility and road work.
The new middle school will accommodate up to 550 students. The Parker Middle School addition will allow the school to function independently, providing all the required program areas, while the central heating plant and other services will remain shared.
The high school project will include significant renovations within the existing facility, including all required code upgrades, reconfiguration of spaces to meet the school's program, new roofing, replacement of some windows, all new electrical systems, a new fire protection sprinkler system, a new entry to the school, abatement of any remaining asbestos in the building, and renovation of the HVAC systems. The project will come together in six phases.
Phase one of the project includes the construction of a temporary bus loop in the rear of the building, demolition for HVAC hot water supply and return loops to buildings C & D, a temporary weight room and classrooms, the installation of transformers/emergency generator pads and underground electrical, and the renovation of C house.
In early October, demolition work was taking place inside the building while laborers were getting ready for structural steel outside.
In building C, laborers, electricians and plumbers were removing areas of walls and concrete slabs and putting up temporary partitions to separate the school from the work area. The team was also removing some asbestos from the planetarium area that will be taken off-site and disposed of. The planetarium will also be removed.
In the pool area, laborers were removing the pool and seating around the pool.
Executive Manager Richard Reuter said there are about 45 to 50 laborers on site on any given day.
The site also houses large excavating equipment including a VOLVO A35C dump truck used to carry gravel during the dewatering of a hole during the installation of rebar. During the dewatering process, laborers were pumping out the hole with a 3-inch water pump while Carl Lloyd from Rudy V. Pompeo, Inc. did the digging with the Volvo EC 360 excavator.
On-site laborers were also using a Cat TH63 forklift for laying in steel for the iron workers. Approximately 90 tons of rebar was ordered for the project.
Project Manager Lennie Perron said there were about 12 to 15 large machines on site – mostly Volvos and all belonging to Pompeo. “All of Pompeo's equipment are Volvos,” Perron said.
Perron said that because weather conditions are so erratic in October, he tries to keep his concrete pour orders small. At this time of year he uses a 4,000-psi mix and pours about 22 yards a day.
“Occasionally we do a big pour, but we want to keep the orders small so that we don't have to eat it if it rains and we can't do the pour,” Perron said. “We have to make that call the day before, and once you place the order you own it.”
Reuter said that because this project will be done in phases, the existing building will continue to be occupied during construction.
In February 2009 the crew plans to begin phase two of the project, which includes the renovation of D house and the second floor locker rooms next to a small gym.
Phase three will begin in June 2009 and will include the installation of HVAC and electrical in the fieldhouse, HVAC hot water supply and return loops from buildings C and D to buildings A and B, the renovations of the girls and boys locker rooms, electrical and HVAC in the small gym on the second floor, and the renovations of guidance offices and the front entry.
Phase four, which will begin in February 2010, will include the renovation of the S-Wing East.
During phase five, which will begin in June 2010, laborers will renovate the kitchen, cafeteria and loading dock as well as the front fieldhouse lobby, the ROTC room, and alert rooms south of the teachers' dining room, A-house and S-wing.
Phase six will begin in February 2011 and will include the renovation of the auditorium, fieldhouse, and the finishing of the small gym on the second floor.
At just over $112-million anticipated project cost, the undertaking is the city's largest construction expenditure to date. Prior to beginning construction, Gilbane assisted the city with planning for the multiyear, phased modernizations specifically focused on addressing the challenges of working in an occupied facility and maintaining a safe learning environment for students, staff and faculty. The cost of the project for Bacon and Agostini is $88.5 million.
