Contractors install new energy efficient lighting in the classrooms of Powder Mill School in Southwick. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
SOUTHWICK – The Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School Committee approved a change order this week for PDS Construction.
The order gives the company five extra days to complete summer work at Woodland and Powder Mill Schools, setting a new deadline of Aug. 20.
Owner’s Project Manager Strategic Building Solutions’ Kurt Lavaway told the committee this week that SBS began looking at the construction timeline several weeks ago and found PDS was not on schedule.
One of several hallways remains under construction at the Powder Mill School in Southwick. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
“We were noticing things were slipping,” said Lavaway.
A letter was sent to PDS about the schedule and work picked up.
“Since that letter was sent they have stepped up to the plate and done a lot to accelerate the schedule,” Lavaway said.
Even after increasing productivity, there were still some items that were behind schedule for reasons beyond PDS’ control. PDS asked for additional time to complete those projects and Lavaway recommended extending the deadline from Aug. 15 to Aug. 20.
New energy-saving windows have been installed as part of the renovation project at the Powder Mill School in Southwick. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
“We did take a year off the schedule and it has been so compressed, it’s a miracle we’re making it work,” Lavaway said. “It makes sense to approve a change order for time, but no additional cost.”
The change order was approved by the committee and affects only the timeline at Woodland and Powder Mill. Fontaine Bros. is the contractor working at the middle/high school and they are set to end summer work on Aug. 20, too.
Superintendent Dr. John Barry agreed with SBS’ recommendation.
“I don’t think it puts the district at a disadvantage,” he said.
Following heavy rains Wednesday, the Powder Mill building had some leaks, according to contractors, because of work being done on the roof. Barry said the power being out for two hours because a transformer exploded caused more concern than the water. Barry said yesterday that the rain and power outage would not change the deadline.
