Opening of new wing heralded at SWMHS Sayreville district enters second phase of $47 million project BY MICHAEL ACKER Staff Writer Sayreville High school students are now using a new classroom wing at the school, completed as part of the ongoing $47 million construction project. Top to bottom: One of the new science labs in the D wing at Sayreville War Memorial High School includes group workstations at the rear of the classroom with desks in the front. The wing is part of a $47 million construction project at the high school, which is anticipated for completion next year. The weight room was furnished with equipment that had a minimal cost for the school district, along with the cost of a trailer, according to school board member Kevin Ciak. The new wing includes science labs, classrooms, preparation rooms for teachers, an auxiliary gym and a weight room. The first of three phases of construction at Sayreville War Memorial High School included the athletic field installed in 2006 and the D wing addition that was built over the past year. School Business Administrator EmidioD'Andrea announced at theMarch 18 Board of Educationmeeting that the newaddition to the high school was opened to students last week. PHOTOS BY MICHAEL ACKER "It is a spectacular building," D'Andrea said. The B wing of the school will be demolished to make way for a new two-story wing during phase two of the construction project. Then, a music suite and a cafeteria will be built in phase three. The project began in fall 2006 and is scheduled for completion in fall 2009. The D wing, which has been open to students since last week, includes classrooms, science labs, an auxiliary gym and a weight room, Board of Education member Kevin Ciak said. The school board's newly formed Construction Oversight Committee reviewed the change orders for the project, and is now looking to free up additional revenue for this project as it enters the second and third phases, said Ciak, a member of that committee. More than $300,000 remains for the project's contingencies, and if additional issues arise related to code requirements in the design, the district could face a problem, he said. Therefore, the board is looking tomake adjustments that would save the district money in the event that it is needed. Board member Curtis Clark said the board and its contractors started phases two and three during the first phase in the interest ofmoving the construction process along and in order to realize cost savings for the district. "As with any construction project, there are unforeseen things that happen, so you have to hope for the best and prepare for the worst," Clark added. "So farwe are on schedule, but there were a few delays in order to get a favorable interest rate in the beginning, and then the permit process held us up a little bit, [plus] waiting for inspections." Clark said the parking situation has improved at the school since the completion of the D wing, which caused congestion since the security fence had to be put up around thework area. That fence has been removed, and parking for athletic games has improved, he added. "We lost a number of spots all around the back of the school by the football field, and a number of spots in the side," Clark said. "During the games, like soccer or field hockey, it got quite congested." The board appointed LAN Associates, of NewYork andNewJersey, as the architect of record for various construction projects in the district during fiscal years 2008 and 2009. This will allow RSC Architects, the board's former architect, to concentrate on the work involved in the high school construction project, according to D'Andrea. Clark said the board also designated the new architect of record due to a number of non-recurring capital improvements that are in the works. "We have a whole bunch of projects planned for next year," Clark said. The change is part of the board's effort to make up for lost time in the project, which is still on schedule for completion in 2009, according to officials. In the meantime, the board hired a director of facilities and operations for the district to ensure that the work being done at the high school is done in a satisfactorymanner and that the change orders proposed are necessary. The board approved two change orders for the project thismonth, both going toChanree Construction Co., including $27,131 for the installation of fire blankets and $15,848 for the removal of fireproofing, sand and prime columns with intumescent paint. The board authorized $57,000 in change orders at its Januarymeeting, in addition to the $813,000 in previous change orders for the project. The board last year incurred additional costs for firewalls and fire suppression elements that were not in the original plan. Board members also voiced dissatisfactionwith the individualwhomanaged the construction project on behalf of the board's hired consultant, Epic Management in January. Epic changed the manager of the project in response to those concerns. Clark said there is some debate as to who is responsible for the cost overruns and how to recoup those costs. "We will get the money back somehow so that the taxpayers benefit," Clark said. Ciak said the board could pursue litigation against various entities involved with the project, but will first look to complete the project. "Experience has told us that negotiations are hopefully the better way to go," Ciak said. "We are looking at the options, so we can keep the projectmoving forward," he added. Board President Michael Macagnone said the project's third phase includes renovationof theauditorium, cleanup, andwork on the athletic area, though the latterwas already done in an effort to move the process along. The new D wing, he said, was well received by students and faculty. "The teachers love it," Macagnone said. "The kids love the new classrooms." The change orders for the project so far are not unusually high in cost for this large a project,Macagnone said.He added that since this is a referendum project, the design was drawn up in 2003, and cost overruns are inevitable. "It's less than $1million,"Macagnone said. "It's not unusual for a project of this size." The board will make sure that future change orders are not the result of oversights or omissions, as digging and work on pipes begin in phase two. "There have been some change orders thatwere a direct result of omissions or oversights on the part of some of the professionals," Macagnone said. "That is a fact." The boardwould prefer to negotiate some of the cost overruns after the project is completed, since savings can still be achieved in the second and third phases, Macagnone said. He said litigation is the last resort. "Ourmain focus is to complete the rest of the project and get it as close to schedule and within budget aswe can," he said. "That's our goal." "We are going to deliver a first-rate educational institution for the students in Sayreville," Macagnone said.