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Project Updates
September 23, 2008
The School Board adjourned the September 15, 2008 Regular meeting (recessed until September 23) without voting on the selection of the construction manager for the high school renovation project. Discussion continues with the two finalists, P.J. Dick and URS, to finalize contract details. The next scheduled School Board meeting is the Discussion meeting on October 13, 2008 at 7:30 p.m. in the High School Library.
September 8, 2008
During September 8 Architect Update, School Board member Dan Remely announced that the selection process for a construction manager for the high school project has been narrowed down to two finalists. The firms under consideration by the Board are P.J. Dick Incorporated and URS. Final contract negotiations are underway; a final decision will be made at an upcoming Board meeting.
Board member Elaine Cappucci also announced at the September 8 meeting a list of community meeting dates scheduled in October and November that will lead up to the selection of an alternative at the November 17 Regular School Board meeting. Residents are encouraged to attend and share their feedback. More details about the meetings to come.
September 7, 2008
Over the summer, the School Board conducted interviews of Construction Managers and hopes to have a firm selected and contract signed within the next few weeks. The Design Advisory Team meeting scheduled for August 27th was postponed and will be rescheduled until after there is new information from the Construction Manager. Recent public events included the First Friday booth on Sept. 5th where the Superintendent and school board members talked about the project with residents who stopped by and tours of the high school were held on Sept. 6th.
June 25, 2008
A Community Forum will be held on Tuesday, July 22 at 7pm in the High School Auditorium to present alternative approaches to the renovation of Mt. Lebanon High School. Architects from Celli-Flynn Brennan and OWP/P will present conceptual designs to highlight different approaches to consider in planning for the complex and challenging high school construction project. Residents are encouraged to attend to share their feedback.
If you’re not able to make the meeting it will be shown on Channel 19 and available On Demand at www.mtlsd.org. Comments may be sent to the School Board at High School Project Contact Us.
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June 2, 2008
On June 9 at 6:30 p.m. in the high school library prior to the Board Discussion meeting, representatives from Celli Flynn Brennan and OWP/P will present the first of what will be regular updates to the School Board and community on the status of the high school construction project. The architect reports will given an hour before the Board Discussion meetings which are held on the second Monday of every month. The community will be able to watch the reports on Channel 19 and will be available on demand on the High School Renovation Blog.
Last month, School Board members, Elaine Cappucci and Dan Remely, Superintendent John Allison and Facilities Project Manager, Rick Marciniak, attended the Pennsylvania School Board Association 2008 School Design & Construction Conference in Philadelphia. The conference provided valuable information on how to plan for a successful school construction project.
| May 16, 2008
Over the past month, architects from Celli Flynn Brennan and OWP/P met with staff and students to discuss space needs as part of the planning process for the high school project. They also met for the first time with last year’s Educational Specification Committee that has now evolved into the newly formed Design Advisory Committee. This group includes a cross-section of community members, staff and students and will function as a focus group to clarify design issues from the DeJong report and from the architects as the project moves along.
Planning is also in the works for multiple community meetings, the first of which will probably occur this summer. All community members will be invited to provide input on the project at that time. We will post the meeting information as soon as it is available.
April 1, 2008
During the past month, the architects met with the departments in the high school to translate the DeJong study into an architectural space program. These meetings will continue through April 16th with the goal of establishing the first concepts of square footage needed for the building. This careful planning process goes right to the heart of Mt. Lebanon's goals for 21st century teaching and learning spaces.
The site survey is due the second week in April. It involved aerial photography of the site and ground confirmation done while
the students were on break.
March 1, 2008
A master design committee has been formed to provide regular oversight of the high school renovation process. The members of the committee are: school board members, Dan Remely and Elaine Cappucci; John Allison, Superintendent of Schools; Dr. Ron Davis, High School principal; Drew Haberberger, teacher; Rick Marciniak, District Project Manager, Carol Walton, former school board member; Thomas Celli, architect, Celli Flynn Brennan. The committee has reviewed the DeJong High School Facility Study which was required as part of the state’s Plan Con process. In early March, the architect will begin to meet with department supervisors to review the DeJong study and discuss their departmental needs.
January 30, 2008
Architects and engineers from Celli-Flynn Brennan, Inc. have completed a comprehensive walk-through of the District elementary schools, middle schools and high school campus. The purpose of the walk-through was to collect data to complete a feasibility study required by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) as part of the PlanCon process (Planning and Construction Workbook). PlanCon is a set of formal procedures used by the PDE for school districts to apply for Commonwealth reimbursement when they undertake a major construction project. It is designed to (1) document a local school district’s planning process; (2) provide justification for a project to the public; (3) ascertain compliance with state regulations; and (4) establish the level of state participation in the cost of the project. The feasibility study is an initial step in the PlanCon process that will evaluate and describe the District’s capabilities of carrying out the proposed project successfully. Celli-Flynn Brennan anticipates completing the feasibility study by the end of February.
January 21, 2008
On January 21, 2008 the School Board approved the selection of Deglau Engineering to conduct a site survey of the high school property. This survey will include the topography, the location of utilities, the property boundaries and all buildings and geometric physical features such as roads, walkways, fencing, trees and fields. This information is critical since it will become the basis of all future design and will allow the architects to better understand the scope of work as they begin the process of schematic design.
November 19, 2008
The Mt. Lebanon Board of School Directors unanimously approved the selection of Celli-Flynn Brennan Architects and Planners (CFB) to lead the Mt. Lebanon High School renovation project at the November 19, 2007 Regular Board meeting. The firm, founded in 1958, has worked with more than 100 school clients on a variety of project types. CFB's headquarters is located in the Cultural District in downtown Pittsburgh. A partial listing of completed public school projects include: Allderdice High School Physical Education Building, Yough High School, Slippery Rock High School,and A.E. Stevenson High School. Thomas C. Celli, CFB president, will lead the project.
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