Dale Caldwell and John Benzinger from Skanska said Gilbane's offer for the construction manager at-risk job will fit the budget.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A subcommittee of the School Building Needs Commission on Monday has given its OK to enter into a preconstruction contract with Gilbane Building for the new high school.

The preconstruction is a smaller contract that is likely a precursor to signing Gilbane in a separate contract to be the at-risk manager for the entire project.

The subcommittee last week had approved negotiating with the Boston-based company to become the construction manager at-risk. The two sides have negotiated and come close to reaching a $9.9 million contract for the entire project.

 

The preconstruction was bid at a cost of $275,000 but negotiated down to $250,000, according to John Benzinger of the consulting firm Skanska USA. The preconstruction is expected to last 11 months but also include some early bidding.

 

"We're hoping to do early packages on the site - concrete and steel," Benzinger said.

 

The first construction is expected in spring 2016 with total completion by June 2018. The preconstruction phase includes various levels of cost estimations for both architects Drumney Rosane & Anderson Architects Inc. and Gilbane. 

 

The subcommittee is expected to reconvene in December and approve the contract for the manage at-risk work. There is still an out should there be some major discrepancies. That clause, however, hasn't been executed at many other schools and DRA and Skanska officials said they've never been part of a project in which it was. 

 

"We did these interviews and we are executing a contract for preconstruction. But, Gilbane is our choice to see it through," said Superintendent Jason McCandless said.

 

The construction manager at-risk work will be fully with Gilbane but the company has included Tierney Construction, which will make up about 20 percent of the team.

 

"This is a not a joint venture," Benzinger said but rather Tierney employees will be part of Gilbane's team. Tierney Construction will also have the ability to bid on parts of the project.

 

The construction manager at-risk is an upfront fee to manage the entire project and bidding. The budget of the $120.8 million project called for $9.9 million for that fee. But in negotiations, Gilbane was able to scale that back to fall in line with the budget. 

 

"They came in with a budget that fits the School Building Needs Commission," Chairwoman Kathleen Amuso said.

 

Overall, there is $97.7 million for construction and the total price tag of $120.8 million is unchanged. Should the construction run over, that burden would be the responsibility of Gilbane. 

 

"Gilbane was extremely cooperative. They're very excited to be on the job. I think they will do a good job," Benzinger said.

 

This isn't the first school Gilbane has been apart of in the Berkshires. The company was the manager at-risk for the Hoosac Valley Middle and High School renovation.

 

For now, DRA is delving into more detailed designs alongside Gilbane. Both companies will have cost estimators price the project multiple times before construction begins. The detailed design isn't expected to change much of the project but rather drill into the types of materials and how much will be used to fit the design.

 

The building will be 246,520 square-feet to accommodate 920 students. It will built over a two-year period across the driveway from the current building, which was constructed in 1969. That building will be razed.