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Project Updates
School Board to Awards Bids for the High School Project
The School Board will award the bids for the High School project at the December 19, 2011 Regular School Board Meeting at 7:30 p.m. in the High School Library.
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Bid Opening Date Changed
The opening of bids for the High School project has been moved from December 7 to December 14, 2011. The Mt. Lebanon School District will receive sealed bids from bidders for the Mt. Lebanon High School Additions and Renovations Project until 1:30 p.m., prevailing time, on December 14, 2011 at the Mt. Lebanon School District Administrative Offices, 7 Horsman Drive, Pittsburgh PA 15228. Bids will be opened publicly and read aloud.
MT. LEBANON SCHOOL DISTRICT INVITATION TO BID
THE MT. LEBANON SCHOOL DISTRICT will receive sealed bids from bidders for the Mt. Lebanon High School Additions and Renovations Project until 1:30 p.m., prevailing time, on December 7, 2011 at the Mt. Lebanon School District Administrative Offices, 7 Horsman Drive, Pittsburgh PA 15228. Bids will be opened publicly and read aloud.
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Bidders proposal shall be for the following:
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Contract No. 1 General Construction Work – for description see Section 01100 Summary of Work.
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Contract No. 2 HVAC (Mechanical) Construction Work - for description see Section 01100 Summary of Work.
Contract No. 3 Plumbing Construction Work - for description see Section 01100 Summary of Work.
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Contract No. 4 Fire Protection Construction Work - for description see Section 01100 Summary of Work.
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Contract No. 5 Electrical Construction Work - for description see Section 01100 Summary of Work.
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Contract No. 6 Architectural Casework Construction - for description see Section 01100 Summary of Work.
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Contract No. 7 Asbestos Containing Material Abatement Work - for description see Section 01100 Summary of Work.
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By Others: Informational Documents are provided for coordination with Food Service Equipment Construction Work, to be carried out under separate contract by the Owner including all food service equipment described in the Documents, installation of new equipment, coordination of work with other trades including but not limited to provision of complete rough-in plans and all incidental items necessary to complete the construction of the Project.
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Graphics and signage, other than that required by code, will be provided by others under separate contract with the Owner. Coordination by all contractors is required.
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The contractor is advised that each contract listed above requires coordination and teamwork with each other contractor to the end that the Owner receives a completed project by the date specified.
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Contract Documents, including drawings and specifications, are on file at the above office of the Owner, office of the Architect, Celli-Flynn Brennan, 606 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, at the plan room of the McGraw Hill Dodge, 600 Waterfront Dr., Suite 200, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 and the plan room of the Pittsburgh Builders Exchange, 1813 N. Franklin St., Pittsburgh, PA 15233, where they may be examined preparatory to, and during bidding. Copies of the documents may be also viewed on-line at myprintscape.com.
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Copies of the documents can be ordered by phone or on-line at myprintscape.com. All bidders must purchase a complete set of either full size or half size drawings and specifications with the exception of abatement (purchase of abatement drawings required). Each set includes a hard copy set, electronic set, & free addendum downloads. Hard copy of addendums will be made available for a fee per order request.
Registration will be required through the Printscape website for all Prime Contract Bidders.
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A bid bond executed by the bidder and acceptable securities in an amount equal to not less than ten percent (10%) of the total bid sum shall be submitted with the bid.
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There will be a mandatory pre-bid meeting held November 16, 2011 at 3:30 p.m. in the Fine Arts Theatre at the High School, 155 Cochran Road, Pittsburgh PA 15228.
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The MT. LEBANON SCHOOL DISTRICT is requesting bids to be made “net of insurance” and will award the contract to the lowest responsible bidder “net of insurance”, all as more thoroughly described in the Contract Documents.
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The MT. LEBANON SCHOOL DISTRICT reserves the right to refuse any and all bids, or parts thereof, or items therein, and to waive any technicalities or informalities in bidding.
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No bid or part, or parts thereof, or items therein, shall be withdrawn for a period of 60 days subsequent to the opening of bids without the consent of the Owner, except as permitted by law.
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Janice R. Klein, Secretary
Board Secretary
Architect Update Oct. 10, 2011
At the Architect Update on Oct. 10, Tom Celli from Celli-Flynn Brennan presented an update on the exterior elevations of the high school and an updated bid schedule. The project is now expected to go to bid on Oct. 26 with a bid opening on Dec. 7, 2011. PJ Dick also presented an updated phasing schedule.
CFB presentation
PJ Dick Preliminary Phasing Schedule
Architect Update Sept. 12, 2011
The architects presented an overview to the Board of the changes to the plans for the high school. Included in the presentation was a review of energy usage for the new plans, an update of the tentative timeline for the project and a review of PlanCon Part F. The architects from CFB delivered the final plans to the District at the end of last week. The construction managers from PJ Dick will now review the plans to prepare them to go out to bid sometime in October.
Presentation
High School Project List of Potential Cost Savings
Since the bids for the High School renovation project were rejected by the School Board in April 2011, the architects and construction managers have developed a list of potential cost savings for the re-design of the project with the goal to re-bid the project this fall. The School Board and administration have accepted items on the list, rejected others, while some are still pending review. This list is fluid and subject to change.
Potential Project Cost Savings List (8.8.2011)
School Board to Use Multiple Prime Contractors for High School Project
At the July 18, 2011, School Board meeting the School Board made the decision to move from using a single prime contractor to multiple prime contractors for the High School project.
Plans for High School Redesign Move Forward
At the Architect Update on June 20, 2011, Dr. Tim Steinhauer gave a presentation to the School Board outlining the changes currently being recommended to reduce the cost of the high school plan with the goal to re-bid the project this fall. The presentation focused on the work that has occurred since the opening of the bids on April 19, 2011. The changes that were recommended, specifically the reduction of approximately 31,000 square feet in the new G-Building and the Athletic Building, were made with the goal to have little or no impact on the high school program. The plan continues to be aligned to the 15 Design Criteria that were established following the DeJong Space Utilization Study in 2006 and through community input gathered over the course of the design process. An area of major change is the redesign of the mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems (MEP). The original systems were designed with the goal of attaining LEED Silver certification. The MEP redesign, while still providing energy efficient boilers, chillers, HVAC systems, etc., represents considerable cost savings but also makes achieving LEED certification unlikely. Items placed on the Deduct and Add Alternate lists such as the third auxiliary gym, tennis courts and rifle range remain in the project.
Next steps in the process:
At the June 20th meeting, the School Board directed the architects to begin drawing plans based on the list of accepted items for the redesign. CFB will begin the work once Dr. Davis and Dr. Steinhauer approve the floor plans. Once this work is completed, PJ Dick will have the necessary information to develop more detailed cost estimates. The administration will continue to refine the list of potential savings while still exploring additional savings. District staff will review the potential changes with the municipality and other authorities having jurisdiction.
The School Board gave CFB direction to proceed with the following items:
1- Changes to G- Building, B-Building and the Athletic Building. The School Board also asked the architects and construction managers to explore the potential costs to keep the steel and current foundation planned for G-Building to allow for the option to add a floor in the future.
2- The preliminary add/deducts lists.
3- Changes to the elevator and loading dock.
4- Redesign MEP systems.
5- Expansion of the District’s current Lenel Security System instead of purchasing a completely new system.
Architect Update June 13, 2011
There will be an Architect Update on Monday, June 13, 2011, at 7:00 p.m. in the High School Library prior to the School Board meeting. The architects from Celli-Flynn Brennan and the construction managers from P.J. Dick Corp. will report to the School Board on their progress with the bid review process.
School Board to Hear Upate From Architects and CM at May 16th Board Discussion Meeting
At the May 16 Board Discussion meeting, architects from Celli-Flynn Brennan and the construction manager from P.J. Dick will present an update to the School Board on their progress to identify issues that impacted the outcome of the bids for the High School renovation. They will focus on the following areas: owner’s conditions, bid structures, phasing, construction elements, and proprietary specifications. The next step in this process will be to review modification recommendations, verify and evaluate potential cost savings and determine next steps in re-bidding the project. The meeting will be held at 7:30p.m. in the High School Library.
School Board Rejects Bids for High School Project
At the reconvened School Board meeting on April 25th, the School Board voted unanimously (8-0, Sue Rose was absent) to reject all bids received in connection with the High School Renovation Project on April 19, 2011, including construction bids and asbestos abatement bids. The School Board heard a presentation from construction manager John Taormina from PJ Dick and architect, Tom Celli, of Celli Flynn Brennan, concerning the bids, and their continued efforts to identify why the bids went well over estimates. No definitive answers were offered since they continue to investigate the causes. Board members expressed a desire to look at ways to drive down the cost of the project while maintaining the integrity of the design for the High School programs with the goal to accomplish this in a timely manner in order to put the project out to bid again.
Mrs. Posti identified major issues that need to be resolved by the architects, construction managers and solicitor that included: MEP system specifications, shoring packages, code-related factors, phasing, contractual language and possible design changes. Mrs. Posti asked for an update from the construction managers and architects at the reconvened April Regular Board meeting to be held on May 2, 2011, immediately following the Budget Forum which begins at 7:30 p.m. in the High School Library. The goal is to establish a timeline to get the project back out to bid. “We are committed to the development of a project that meets our programmatic needs at an investment level acceptable to the community and will continue to work with our architect and CM to accomplish that goal,” said Mrs. Posti.
High School Bids Exceed Cost Estimates
On April 19, 2011, the bids for the Mt. Lebanon High School project were opened. The lowest bids came in significantly higher than the cost estimates provided to the District by the construction managers. “The School Board and administration are deeply disappointed with these results. The bids are unacceptably high. The project construction manager and architect are in the process of analyzing the reasons behind the significant discrepancy between the estimates and the bid results,” said Superintendent Timothy Steinhauer.
The School Board will meet at the reconvened Regular meeting on Monday, April 25, 2011, at 7:30 p.m. in the Mt. Lebanon High School Library to receive a report from the construction manager and architect on the bid results and to discuss the next steps. |
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High School Bids Exceed Cost Estimates
On April 19, 2011, the bids for the Mt. Lebanon High School project were opened. The lowest bids came in significantly higher than the cost estimates provided to the District by the construction managers. “The School Board and administration are deeply disappointed with these results. The bids are unacceptably high. The project construction manager and architect are in the process of analyzing the reasons behind the significant discrepancy between the estimates and the bid results,” said Superintendent Timothy Steinhauer.
The School Board will meet at the reconvened Regular meeting on Monday, April 25, 2011, at 7:30 p.m. in the Mt. Lebanon High School Library to receive a report from the construction manager and architect on the bid results and to discuss the next steps.
School Board Approves Advertising Bids for High School Project
The School Board voted unanimously to authorize the advertising of bids for the High School project at the reconvened meeting on February 28, 2011. The Board also took action to approve submission of PlanCon F to the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE). PlanCon E was approved by the PDE on February 3, 2011.
Mt. Lebanon Commission Approves High School Project
Final approval for the Mt. Lebanon High School Additions and Renovations Land Development Plan and the two conditional use requests for the High School project were approved by the Mt. Lebanon Commission at the Regular Meeting on February 8, 2011. The project will be advertised for bidding in the coming weeks with ground breaking scheduled for late spring. Once construction begins, it will take about 48 months to complete the project.
Mt. Lebanon Commission Held Public Hearings on High School
On January 24, 2011, public hearings were held at 8:00 p.m. in Room A in the Municipal Building by the Mt. Lebanon Commission on two conditional use requests by the Mt. Lebanon School District for the construction and renovation of the High School and the Shared Parking Agreement. At the start of the hearings, the municipality's solicitor, Phil Weiss, read aloud the municipal guidelines for consideration of land use applications.
The Commission is expected to vote by March 8, 2011 on the conditional use requests and final land development approval for the High School renovation.
Planning Board Gives Recommendation for Final Approval of High School Project
At the December 14, 2010 Municipal Planning Board meeting, the board unanimously approved recommendation for (1) Final approval of the land development application for the renovation of the High School, (2) Recommendation for conditional use in a R-1 Single-family Residential district, and (3) Conditional Use approval for an Alternate Parking Plan which was accomplished by a Shared Parking Agreement approved by both the School Board and Municipal Commission.
The plans will now be submitted to the Mt. Lebanon Board of Commissioners for final approval of Land Development and Conditional Uses.
High School Project Update-Nov. 9, 2010
Planning for the High School project continues. The architects are close to 90% completion of the construction documents to ready the plans for bid. Review continues of the interior space layouts for classrooms and labs as well as interior colors.
In October, the Court of Common Pleas affirmed the decision of the Mt. Lebanon Zoning Board to deny two variance requests: one for lot coverage and the other for the number of parking spaces required on the high school campus.
Lot Coverage:
As the plans for the High School moved through the Planning Board process, the lot coverage issue was resolved. Through the use of pervious pavement and other changes, the lot coverage for the High School plan is now under the Municipality’s 50% requirement.
Parking:
At the October 18th School Board meeting, the Board approved a shared parking agreement that formalizes the verbal agreement that has been in place for several decades that allowed Mt. Lebanon students to park in the Commissioners' Lot during the school hours. It was necessary for the School District and the Commission to formalize this agreement in order to comply with the shared parking provisions in the Zoning Code. On November 8, 2010, the Commissioners approved an ordinance authorizing an agreement that will allow the School District to utilize 40 spaces in the Commissioners’ Lot during regular school hours. The plan now meets the required number of parking spaces.
Next Steps:
Now that the parking and lot coverage issues have been resolved, the School District has submitted revised documents for Planning Board review. The next Planning Board meeting is scheduled for November 23, 2010.
PlanCon Part D Approved by PDE
The Pennsylvania Department of Education approved PlanCon Part D for the High School Renovation project. This includes all of the information and testimony submitted from the Act 34 Hearing held on February 22, 2010.
At the September 20, 2010 Regular School Board meeting, the Board accepted the State’s approval of PlanCon Part D, which sets a preliminary amount of reimbursement for the State’s share of the High School Renovation Project. That reimbursement percentage was estimated at 7.99% of the cost of the bonds in the Act 34 document, but was increased to 8.372% in this approval. This new percentage is estimated to bring in about $690,000 more in State reimbursement over the life of the Bonds issued for the project. |
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Request For Information: Owner's Representative Services for High School Project
The Mt. Lebanon School District seeks information and proposals for owner’s representation services to facilitate the renovation of the Mt. Lebanon High School located at 7 Horsman Drive, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15228.
Request for Information / Proposals: Owner’s Representative Services
Architect Update-September 13, 2010
At the September 13th Architect Update a presentation was made on some of the interior finishes for the new High School. Click here for the presentation. All updates are videotaped and archived.
Architect Update-August 9, 2010
At the August 9 Architect Update a representative from architects Celli-Flynn Brennan presented the deduct alternative list for the Board to consider if bids for the project come in higher than estimated. PJ Dick presented the project estimate for 50% construction documents.
Click Here for the Presentation
High School Renovation Update-July 27, 2010
Planning for the Mt. Lebanon High School renovation project continues. District staff and the project architects continue to work through the Municipal Planning Board process while the District’s appeal of the Mt. Lebanon Zoning Hearing Board’s denial of two variances requested for parking and lot coverage is still pending in the Court of Common Pleas.
Watch the July 12, 2010 Architect Update for more information.
School Board President Ed Kubit's Comments on High School Project
At the July 19, 2010 Regular School Board meeting, Board President Ed Kubit discussed the status of the High School project.
Read more...
School Board Approves Using Single Prime for HS Project
The School Board voted at the July 19, 2010 School Board meeting to authorize the administration to proceed with the High School project using a single prime contractor. Pennsylvania law requires schools to solicit construction bids by separating out major prime contractors such as plumbing, electrical and HVAC. Many schools have found that hiring one contractor--a single prime--who can be held responsible for the completion of the entire project, provides a smoother construction process and eliminates issues that could delay the project or lead to litigation.The School Board approved applying for the waiver and was then approved by the State for this bidding option in June.
School Board to Use Owner Controlled Insurance Program for HS Project
In other action taken at the July 19, 2010 School Board meeting, the Board authorized the administration to work with the Pennsylvania School Boards Association to use an Owner Controlled Insurance Program (OCIP) for the High School project.
OCIPs are an alternative insurance purchasing strategy that consolidates various insurance coverage for contractors engaged in a building or renovation project. Lines of coverage provided by OCIP are:
-Workers' compensation
-General liability
-Excess liability
-Builder's risk (as necessary)
The owner, which in this case is the school entity, procures these coverages on behalf of all parties working at the job site, rather than having each firm supply its own insurance for the project in question
Architect Update-June 14, 2010
Tom Celli announced that the state had approved the District's request for a mandate waiver to bid the High School project with a single prime contractor and an update on the progress being made to attain LEED Silver Certification was presented.
Architect Update-May 17, 2010
High School principal, Dr. Ron Davis and Mr. Michael Hogel, Supervisor of Science and Tech Ed, made presentations to the School Board. Dr. Davis presented an overview of the benefits of the renovated High School. Mr. Hogel presented an update on the design of the Science labs and classrooms. Both presentations are now available.
School Board Approves PlanCon D
At the April 29, 2010 Audit Finance Meeting the School Board voted 8-1 to approve the PlanCon D document for state reimbursement of the High School project.
District Appeals Mt. Lebanon Zoning Hearing Board Decision
On April 27, 2010, the Mt. Lebanon School District filed a Land Use Appeal in the Court of Common Please, of the decision by the Mt. Lebanon Zoning Hearing Board to deny two variances for the High School Project relating to parking and lot coverage.
School District Reviewed High School Plans at Preliminary Meeting with Planning Board
On April 27, 2010, Dr. Tim Steinhauer, and architects Tom Celli, Celli-Flynn Brennan and Kerry Leonard, OWP/P Cannon Design, took the opportunity to informally present plans for the High School Renovation for the proposed uses and site plan to the Planning Board and public to get comment and feedback before submitting a formal application for consideration in May.
Act 34 Transcript Released
The transcript of the Act 34 Hearing for the High School renovation is now available online.
School Board President Responds to Municipal Zoning Board Decision
According to the Municipality, the new High School Project required two variances - one for parking spaces and one for lot coverage. At the Mt. Lebanon Zoning Hearing Board on March 11, 2010 the Zoning Board denied the two variances. Read below for School Board President Ed Kubit’s remarks from the March 15 School Board meeting regarding this issue.
March 15, 2010
One of the criteria for the ongoing High School design project was to avoid or minimize any zoning issues while still being able to meet the educational and programmatic goals of the School District. The plan that was approved by the Board accomplished these goals.
The Municipality determined that the approved design submitted by the School district contained two non-conforming structures or uses that did not meet the Zoning Code. These nonconformities were not an issue when the current building was built, but rather relate to subsequent changes in the Zoning Ordinance.
It is the School District's position that it is entitled to approval of these two nonconformities as a matter of right, because in each instance that element of the design actually makes the property more conforming than it is right now.
The Municipality, however, took the position that a variance is required. The first of these relates to lot coverage, which means the percentage of the total property that is covered by buildings, parking lots, roadways, and other non-permeable surfaces. The second was the number of parking spaces.
The Zoning Ordinance calls for no more than 50% lot coverage. Currently, our lot coverage is in excess of that figure, at 54.57%. Again, however, this is a permitted prior nonconformity, since the ordinance was not in effect when the building was built. In the new design, we improve lot coverage, by slightly reducing the lot coverage to 54.43%.
As to parking, we currently have 502 spaces on the site. We are advised by the Municipality that 528 spaces are necessary. Under the new design, the number of spaces has increased from 502 to 505. It is important to note that our parking study confirmed that, on a typical school day, there are approximately 40 parking spaces available on school property. In addition, students are entitled to park in the Commissioner's Lot and at Dixon Field, although those spaces are rarely used. We also confirmed that, on a typical day, there was no illegal parking on adjacent streets.
Although the new design improves both of these nonconformities, on March 11, 2010 the Mt. Lebanon Zoning Hearing Board denied both variances. Without zoning approvals, the High School Project cannot proceed.
We are disappointed in the decision of the Zoning Hearing Board. The new design in no way alters the character of the neighborhood, but rather provides for a dramatically improved, safer and more accessible high school, including improvements in both lot coverage and parking spaces. We feel that the Zoning Hearing Board's decision is incorrect.
We are currently reviewing all of our options to determine a course of action that is in the best interest of our students and the community. One possible option is an appeal to the Court of Common Pleas.
Ed Kubit
President
Mt. Lebanon Board of School Directors
School Board Accepts PlanCon Part B Approval
The School Board voted 9-0 to accept the State’s approval of PlanCon Part B as reflected the State's letter dated January 11, 2010.
School Board Approves Firm for Commissioning Services
At the February 15, 2010 Regular School Board meeting the Board approved Lovorn Engineering Associates, LLC of Pittsburgh, PA to provide commissioning services for the Mt. Lebanon High School renovation project. The objective of commissioning is to provide documented confirmation to USGBC LEED silver standards that the facility fulfills the functional and performance requirements of the district, the occupants and operators.
Lovorn Engineering will be involved throughout the project from the design development phase through the construction and the warranty phase. Systems that will be commissioned include: central building automation, HVAC, lighting controls, daylighting, electrical, emergency power, building envelope, vertical transportation, plumbing, fire/life safety, lab rooms, refrigeration, sound control, data and communication, and supply air and exhaust systems.
Mt. Lebanon School District Holds Act 34 Hearing for High School Project
Act 34 of 1973 requires that a public hearing be held on all new construction and substantial additions for second, third and fourth class school districts. The Mt. Lebanon School District will hold an Act 34 public hearing regarding the High School renovation project on February 22, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. in the High School Auditorium located at 155 Cochran Road. The purpose of this hearing is to review the proposed renovation and addition to the High School and to receive public comments. The District administration, architect, and financial advisor will present an overview of the construction and financing of the project to the public. All Mt. Lebanon residents are invited to attend and make comments.At the January 18, 2010, Regular School Board meeting, the Board approved the Act 34 document that sets a maximum total High School project cost of $113,274,765.
Act 34 Hearing Notice
Act 34 Agenda
Act 34 Project Description Booklet
What is the PlanCon Process?
When a school district undertakes a major construction project and seeks reimbursement from the Commonwealth, a process known as PlanCon is initiated. PlanCon, an acronym for Planning and Construction Workbook, is a set of forms and procedures used to apply for Commonwealth reimbursement. The PlanCon forms are 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 laws and regulations; and (4) establish the level of state participation in the cost of the project.
School Board President Responds to Community Questions
School Board President Ed Kubit answers the most frequently asked questions he has received since the January 18 School Board vote to approve the Act 34 document. responds to important questions raised by the community about the High School project.
School Board Approves the Act 34 Document
At the January 18, 2010, Regular School Board meeting, the School Board voted 6-3 to approve the Act 34 document that sets a maximum maximum building construction cost of $44,977,920, and a maximum total project cost of $113,274,765. Ed Kubit, Dan Remely, Elaine Cappucci, Josephine Posti, Sue Rose, and Mary Birks voted yes; Dale Ostergaard, Faith Stipanovich, and James Fraasch voted no.
As part of the PlanCon process, the District is required to hold a public hearing regarding the project. The meeting will be held on February 22, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. in the Fine Arts Theatre. During this public hearing, known as an Act 34 Hearing, the District’s administration, architect, bond counsel and financial advisor will present an overview of the construction and financing of the project to the public. Public comment will be taken druing the meeting.
School Board Approves High School Design Development Plan
In a vote of 8-1, the School Board approved the Design Development plans and authorized the Construction Drawings for the High School at the December 21, 2009 Regular Board meeting. The Board also directed the architects to continue the review of the following items recommended by the CAC: loading dock placement, Cochran Road entrance, continued attainment of LEED certification points, a review of internal congestion points, tennis court placement, and traffic circulation on Horsman.
Contact Us
Have a question regarding the High School project? Just click the Contact Us link for help. Your message will be sent to the School Board and Superintendent John Allison.
Design Criteria
A set of design criteria was estabished through public and Board input gathered at numerous community meetings and meetings with staff, as well as input from the 2007 DeJong Study that was used in the development of the schematic design of the High School.
1. Create academic center to improve student access to resources
2. Meet MTLSD educational goals for 21st century learning
3. Replace learning spaces for arts
4. Improve athletic spaces
5. New pool
6. Clear circulation
7. Create a center to strengthen the Mt. Lebanon high school community
8. Reuse buildings B, D, E, and F, “like-new” renovation
9. No temporary classrooms
School Board to Take Action on Act 34 Document
At the January 18, 2010, Regular School Board meeting, the Board will vote on the Act 34 document that sets a maximum total High School project cost of $113,274,765. As part of the PlanCon process, the District will be required to hold a public hearing regarding the project. At this public hearing, known as an Act 34 Hearing, the District’s administration, architect, bond counsel and financial advisor will present an overview of the construction and financing of the project to the public. Click here for more information about the project financing.
The Board resolution reads:
Approval of Act 34 Document: RESOLVED, That the Board approves the Act 34 Document for publication including a maximum new high school building construction cost of $44,977,920 and a maximum total high school project cost of $113,274,765 and a public hearing on such project dated February 22, 2010 at 7:00 PM in the high school library with such submissions and advertisements as detailed in the formal resolution which will be attached to the minutes of this meeting.
School Board Approves Design Developement Plans-December 21, 2009
On December 21, 2009, in a vote of 8-1, the School Board Approved the High School Design Development Plans and authorized the Construction Drawings for the High School at the Regular Board meeting. The Board also directed the architects to continue the review of the following items recommended by the CAC: loading dock placement, Cochran Road entrance, continued attainment of LEED certification points, a review of internal congestion points, tennis court placement, and traffic circulation on Horsman.
CAC Documents
Click on the link to access the CAC Documents.
Commmunity Advisory Committee Members Announced-November 9, 2009
At the Nov. 9 School Board meeting, Board President, Alan Silhol, named the 11 members of the Community Advisory Committee. They are: Andrew Rhodes, Daniel Rothschild, David Disque, Dirk Taylor, Ellsworth Vines, Gary Gardner, John Schrott, Kevin Doody, Robert Hicks, Robert Kinderman, and Ronald Leibow. The committee will hold their first meeting on Nov. 12. Dr. Tim Steinhauer will facilitate the meetings.
The architects gave an update on the plans for the interior design of the high school as a result of meetings with staff. They also discussed LEED issues.
Architect Update Scheduled for Nov. 9
Architects from Celli-Flynn Brennan and OWP/P will give an update on the plans for the interior design of the high school as a result of meetings with staff. They will also discuss LEED issues. The meeting will be held at 7pm in the High School Library.
Community Advisory Board Established by School Board-October 29, 2009
At the reconvened meeting of the School Board on Oct. 29, the Board, in a 5-3 vote, approved the formation of a Community Advisory Committee for the High School Project. The committee will consist of 11 members. Dr. Tim Steinhauer will schedule the meetings and set the meeting agendas. The Board will select the members of the committee at the November 9, 2009 Board Discussion meeting. Click here to read the resolution.
Community Advisory Committee - October 12, 2009
The School Board invites Mt. Lebanon residents to submit letters of interest to Dr. Tim Steinhauer to serve on a Community Advisory Board. Click here for more information. The deadline for submissions is October 23, 2009.
Architect Update-September 21, 2009
An Architect Update is scheduled for Monday, September 21, 2009 at 7pm in the High School Library. An overview of the organizational layout of the new High School will be presented along with an update of the Plan Con process.
Architect Update-August 17, 2009
The Architect Update for Monday, August 17 at 7 p.m. in the High School Library, will focus on the exterior architecture of the building and the materials to be used. The architects will provide mounted, colored boards that will show different views of the building. Samples of materials for glass, exterior masonry, and metal panels will also be shown.
Financial Presentation-August 10, 2009
At the August 10, 2009 School Board Discussion meeting, Representatives of the District's bond counsel presented the Board with an update of options for funding the High School project. Click here for the documents.
Architect Update- August 10, 2009
The architects for the High School project presented an overview of the mechanical, plumbing, fire protection and electrical systems designed for the High School. The second presentation covered options proposed for the location of the tennis courts. Now that the schematic design includes an additional auxiliary gym and two more lanes for the pool, the area originally designated for the tennis courts adjacent to the field house will no longer be able to accommodate the courts. Four options were presented; three sites at the High School and a fourth option located at Markham. Each scenario presented included pros and cons. The tennis court location is important to the site design due to the impact on parking spaces and the number of spaces required by the Municipality. Either way, the courts will have to be re-located for the 3-4 years during construction.
July 20, 2009-School Board Approves LEED Silver Certification for High School Project
At the July 20, 2009 Regular Board meeting, the Mt. Lebanon School Board voted 8-1 to approve a resolution to authorize the architects to design the High School renovation project consistent with standards required for LEED Certification at the Silver level. This will add $875,000 to the project estimate of $114.131,000. Commissioning is included since it is a pre-requisite for the overall LEED process. LEED Silver Certification is required for the project to receive State reimbursement of approximately 1.7 million.
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June 8, 2009- School Board Approves Schematic Design
At the School Board Discussion meeting on June 8, 2009, the School Board voted 7-2 to approve the schematic design of the High School that includes expanding the pool from six lanes to eight and adds a third gym. The Board directed the architects to complete Plancon A and B and to proceed to design and development. This phase of the project will refine the design and add greater specificity to the space program. The architects assured the Board that approval of the schematic design still allows the Board to make revisions to the design as the process continues.
The architects will meet with the high school staff over the summer to discuss specifics related to the space program.
The community is encouraged to continue to be involved in the process by checking the High School Renovation website for updates, attending meetings or by watching the broadcasts on Cable Channel 19 or on the web. Share your views about the project with the Board by emailing them at schoolboard@mtlsd.net.
June 8, 2009 School Board Discussion Meeting Moved to Fine Arts Theatre
The Board will continue discussion of the plans for the High School renovation. There will be an action item on the agenda for the Board to vote on approval of the Schematic Design and authorization to proceed with Design Development. The meeting has been moved to the Fine Arts Theatre.
June 1, 2009 Special Board Meeting
The architects of the High School renovation project presented updated cost information and more detailed floor plans in the schematic design of the high school at a Special Board meeting held on June 1, 2009 at 7:30 p.m. in the High School Library.
| May 11, 2009 Architect's Update
Click here for the presentation of the schematic design for Alternative 2 (part new construction, part renovation) for the high school project. The designs were presented to the School Board on Monday, May 11 at 6:30 p.m. in the Fine Arts Theatre. Architects from Celli-Flynn Brennan and OWP/P presented the latest designs based on input from the Board and the community from previous public meetings. Representatives from P.J. Dick also presented cost estimates for the schematic designs. Click here to view Architect's Update.
Architect's Update Cancelled for April 6, 2009
The April Architect's Update is cancelled while the architects and construction managers work on the details of the schematic design for building Alternative 2. It's anticipated that the updates will resume in May.
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February 16, 2009 School Board Votes 7-2 to Move Forward with Building Alternative 2
At the February 16, 2009 Regular Board meeting, the Mt. Lebanon School Board voted 7-2 to direct the architects of the High School renovation to proceed to the schematic phase of the High School Project based on Alternative 2 on the assumption that a portion of the High School will be renovated, and a portion will be new construction but subject to changes in that plan as directed by the District as the project proceeds.
February 13, 2009 High School Project Financing
At the School Board Audit/Finance Committee meeting on February 12, 2009 a 2002 Refunding Update and Mt. Lebanon School District High School Project Financing Discussion was presented by a representative of Janney Montgomery Scott LLC, the District's financial advisers.
February 9, 2009 School Board Discussion Meeting
The School Board continued discussion of the different project options for the renovation of the High School: some favored new construction, others favored a project with new and renovated spaces with costs to fall under the District's current debt limit of $110 million, while others spoke with caution about moving forward with the project in the current economic environment.
The possibility of the project going to referendum was also discussed. Even though there was some discussion by the architect on when construction could begin with or without a referendum, it is still too early to speculate on a possible timeline.
School Board President Alan Silhol announced that a vote would be taken on the direction of the project at the February 16 Regular School Board meeting.
February 9, 2009 Architects Update
Construction managers from P.J. Dick presented a reconciliation of budget numbers as a result of feedback from the Board meeting on January 26, 2009. The reconciliation resulted in a decrease in the original costs for Alternatives 2 and 3 by scaling back the level of renovation of B Building. In both plans, the building would be used for administrative offices and possible rental space.
Jan. 26, 2009 Special Board Meeting
At the January 26 Special Board meeting, there was a consensus among Board members to eliminate consideration of Alternative Approach 1 (repairing the existing building) and Alternative Approach 1A (Repair Existing Buildings/Re-Invent Building C), and Alternative 2A (new construction and renovated Fine Arts Theatre and Auditorium). School Board member Dan Remely proposed an option that he and Board President Alan Silhol developed that would include 240,000 square feet of new construction of core academic classrooms and 200,000 of renovated space. Costs for the plan range from $82-$90 million.
The District's debt limit is $110 million. Any project with costs beyond that amount would be required to go to referendum.
Jan. 9, 2009
A Community Forum will be held on Wednesday, January 14, 2009 at 7 p.m. in the High School Auditorium. The goal of the forum is to present the latest information to the community about the High School Renovation project and to gather feedback for the School Board to consider as they move toward a decision on the project.
Among the topics to be discussed: a review of the building alternatives and estimated costs developed through an independent budgeting effort by the construction manager, P.J. Dick Incorporated; a presentation by the architects from Celli-Flynn Brennan and OWP/P on program and phasing for each alternative; and information on the District’s financing options. A question and answer session will be held after the presentation.
In addition to the Community Forum, three neighborhood meetings will be held on January 20, 21, and 22 for those unable to attend the Community Forum. The same information will be presented at these meetings as was presented at the Forum. Click here for the complete list of meetings.
Oct. 26, 2008
Since the selection of the construction manager was approved by the School Board on October 2, 2008, the community meetings previously announced will be rescheduled. A new meeting schedule will be posted as soon as they are available.
Architect Update-Oct. 13, 2008
Click here to view the Oct. 13, 2008 Architect Update. Project architect, Tom Celli of Celli-Flynn Brennan gave his monthly project update prior to the Board Discussion meeting. His comments included the following points:
1. The architects plan to review the LEED checklist with the Master Design Team. The hope is to identify areas that will be useful, possible, and unlikely to implement in the project.
2. Energy models are being developed to see what is being currently expended and what will be the projected savings with new systems.
3. The architects from OWP/P will provide the construction manager with construction drawings from the three schools in Chicago that School Board members visited last year. This will give the construction management team from P.J. Dick an accurate idea of the systems, types of finishes and building quality to work from. The three Chicago schools are: North Grand, Adelai Stevenson, and Lakes Community high schools.
4. The architects will work with P.J. Dick on a revised timetable and will share detailed information about the project to date to ensure accurate conceptual estimates.
October 2, 2008
The Mt. Lebanon School Board approved P.J. Dick Incorporated as the construction manager for the high school renovation project in a 8-0 vote held during a Special Board meeting on October 2, 2008.
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.
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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, 2007
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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