A lot of work to be done

Construction bids for new Camden-Rockport Middle School 26 percent over what’s budgeted

Wed, 05/16/2018 - 4:30pm

    CAMDEN — The School Administrative District 28 Building Committee opened the construction bids for the new Camden-Rockport Middle School in Camden May 16. The construction budget for the new school, to be built on Knowlton Street, had been set at $22,321,850.

    Ledgewood Construction submitted a base construction bid of $28,147,700.

    PC Construction Company submitted a based bid of $29,778,000.

    “Ouch,” said one building committee member at the May 16 meeting, held in the Washington Street Meeting Room.

    That puts us over by $5 million, which is 26 percent,” said Chairman Will Gartley.

    A brief meeting after the bid opening, the next step is to sit down with Ledgewood and get a better understanding of the numbers.

    “Why is this so far off,” asked Anastasia Fisher, committee member.

    “It’s a combination of what we are seeing everywhere,” said Gartley.

    Also, the two bidders were having trouble finding subcontractors.

    “There’s more going on in state than I’ve seen in 10 years,” said Gartley.

    A few options exist, said Gartley.

    “We could negotiate with Ledgwood or make changes and put it back out to bid.”

    “The difficulty is other schools are being put out to bid,” said Gartley.

    “Like four of them right after us,” said Maria Libby, SAD 28 superintendent.

    Steel has increased in price 30 percent since March, said Gartley.

    “There’s lots of homework to do,” said Bob Falciani, Camden Select Board member and committee member.

    The committee agreed to meet with Ledgewood, and find the big numbers, and then talk with Oak Point Architects.

    “There’s a lot to figure out here,” said Gartley.

    Construction costs, including materials and situations (hurricanes) and labor, have increased 25-30 percent over the last year, both Falciani and Gartley observed.

     

     

    Related stories

    Construction bids for new Camden-Rockport Middle School 26 percent over what's budgeted

    Camden-Rockport school engineers take harder look at heating with municipal wastewater

    MET Repurposing Committee gets down to work in Camden, aims for November referendum

    Camden-Rockport School Board to put future of MET back before voters

    Camden-Rockport School board opposes selling MET, warms to leasing the building

    Camden-Rockport School Board to discuss MET repurposing proposal Jan. 10

    Camden-Rockport School Board faces full January agenda: site plan review, construction cash flow, MET ideas (REMOVES ROCKPORT SELECT BOARD LIAISON, NOW WHAT NEXT?)

    Real estate developer submits proposal to repurpose Camden's Mary E. Taylor school

    SAD 28 chairman tells Rockport Select Board member to step off school Building Committee

    Citizens appeal to Camden, Rockport select boards about school bond process

    Camden Planning Board chairman recuses himself from new school review

    Camden Planning Board consider zoning changes to accommodate new middle school height

    Maine Preservation places Camden's Mary E. Taylor School and Waldo Theatre on its Most Endangered list

    Heating Camden's new middle school from town's sewer plant: What's the cost and can it be done?

    Owner's representative hired for new Camden-Rockport Middle School construction

    UPDATE: (Will be televised, streamed) Camden-Rockport school board powers up for Knowlton Street overhaul, rebuild

    Give community a chance to brainstorm about MET before tear-down, citizens tell school board

    Camden Select Board hopes to meet with school board Thursday evening over MET future

    Future of Camden's MET building to be discussed at two board meetings, municipal and school

    Maria Libby on middle school project planning and Mary E. Taylor School 

    Supporters of new Camden middle school rally for June 13 polls; residents question need for MET demolition 

    Camden-Rockport Middle School building project forum tonight

    The future of Camden's Mary E. Taylor School. Tear it down? Lease it to another entity?

    $28 million Camden-Rockport Middle School project proceeds to vote

    Opinion: Camden Rockport Middle School project examined

    Letter to the editor: School board responds to Camden Planning Board project concerns

    Camden Planning concerns about middle school project

    Camden-Rockport leaders skeptical of $28 million middle school project

    Read about the March 20 forum: Camden-Rockport board endorses public straw vote: Tear down, rebuild middle school

    What to do with Camden-Rockport Middle School: Tear down, renovate, rebuild?

    Camden-Rockport Middle School concepts floated: ‘Everything in pencil’


    Editorial Director Lynda Clancy can be reached at lyndaclancy@penbaypilot.com; 207-706-6657

     

     


    Reach Editorial Director at lyndaclancy@penbaypilot.com; 207-706-6657