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Project Updates
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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.
| 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, 2009Special 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.
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, 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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