How Burlington Works

The Burlington High School Building Committee has set a maximum budget of $340 million for the new high school construction project. This decision came after reviewing cost estimates ranging from $267.4 million to $269.9 million for construction alone, which is in line with preliminary estimates from the project team. When factoring in project management, design services, and other expenses, the total reaches $337.5 million.

Committee members agreed to round up to $340 million to provide a cushion for potential cost increases given current market conditions, as well as unforeseen issues that may arise.

The committee has also decided to remove two optional add-ons from consideration: a $4.15 million field house and a $9.85 million geothermal system. Members of the Committee, including Doug Davison, who is also a member of the Ways & Means Committee (the town's finance committee), thought removing these would be an important gesture, signaling to the town that while a new high school comes with a large price tag, the committee is seeking opportunities for cost prudence.

While the geothermal system was an easy strike, the field house was a harder sell; many committee members, while they didn't necessarily disagree with taking it out of the running, thought it too early in the process to do so. Notably, the project does still include adding bathrooms and concessions at Varsity Field.

The $340 million not-to-exceed budget will need approval by a two-thirds vote at Town Meeting, which is scheduled for September 29. If approved, a debt exclusion referendum is tentatively planned for November 15, though this date isn't set in stone yet.

Project Manager Terry Hartford explained how the process will work now that the committee has settled on a maximum budget:

"That is the budget that Consigli [the construction firm], Tappé [the architectural firm], and ourselves will work towards. And as we go through design development, we’ll do another estimate. If we are over that number, we then have to do value engineering to get below it. That's the number that the town has agreed to bond, and it's our job as a team to ensure that we stay under that number."

A more detailed budget will be presented to the School Committee and Select Board prior to the Town Meeting Warrant printing deadline of September 12.

During the meeting, the many uses of the so-called "Center for Education" – which will be separate from the building holding the classrooms, gymnasiums, and auditorium – were also clarified.

Currently that part of the building holds Burlington Cable Access Television (BCAT), the Burlington Early Childhood Center (BECC, the town's integrated preschool), the LABBB collaborative, the cafeteria, the central office for the school district, and the Science Center.

The renovated two-story building will hold all those spaces, in addition to the Simon Youth Academy, the Career Pathways Program, the Family Welcome Center, the Robotics program, and more. These are programs, Building Committee Chair Katherine Bond emphasized in a recent interview, from which students in the school benefit greatly and the committee previously voted to maintain within the school's campus.

The Committee will be engaging in outreach for the next several months, starting with a virtual forum on Thursday, August 21, at 7:00 PM, where the project team will share an update and members of the community will be able to ask questions and offer input. Details and joining info for this meeting will be posted soon on the Town of Burlington website and the BHS Building Project website.

They are also in the process of creating a series of five short, informational videos about the project in collaboration with local artist, Dave Kartunen, and will have a presence at upcoming town events.

Continue reading →

Editor's Picks

ALL STORIES

See all