Northern Lehigh discusses renovation of high school science lab classrooms

The renovation of four high school science lab classrooms is moving forward as part of Northern Lehigh School District’s nearly $12 million facility improvement project.

The school board approved the McClure Company for planning and cost projections for the renovation of four high school science lab classrooms, relocation of the second floor locker banks to the third floor, making room for two traditional classrooms.

Alyssa Wingenfield, project engineer, of the McClure Company, said the project includes the demolition of the four existing science classrooms and associated prep areas and creating four new science rooms and prep areas, with one exhaust fume hood for chemistry space. A $25,000 allowance for asbestos is included.

There are two alternatives for locker relocation. One would include removing lockers and demolishing the concrete pad on the first floor. Lockers on the second floor on existing corridor wall would be installed on the new 4-foot concrete pad.

Alternate 2 would construct a general classroom in the existing locker bay area location.

Alternate 3 would construct two general classrooms in the existing locker bay area locations.

She said a base science classroom only would result in a cost increase from the remaining Guaranteed Energy Savings Project not to exceed cost of $11.7 million due to electrical, cabinetry and asbestos remediation.

Construction

The high school science classroom renovation, which is not under contract, has a tentative construction for the summer of 2019.

Wingenfield said Boyle Construction Management of Allentown is the general construction partner.

The base scope will include the demolition of four existing science classrooms and associated prep areas; and renovate four new science rooms and prep areas.

Alternate 1 would include the construction of a 867-square-foot biology classroom in the existing locker bay area location, and existing lockers and storage equipment becomes property of the district.

Alternate 2 would construct a 1,083-square-foot physics classroom in the existing locker bay area location, and existing lockers and storage equipment becomes property of the district.

The board will review the guaranteed energy savings agreement in December.

The timetable is: preconstruction activities in January; begin construction May 20, with substantial completion by Aug. 16 before students return; and final completion and systems training between September 2019 and April 2020.

Energy upgrades

Wingenfield said the high school HVAC upgrades are under contract for the summer of 2019.

She said the scope of work will be to provide new, high-efficient variable-speed air handling units, while the 2009 units will remain and be recommissioned; indoor gymnasium units replaced with packaged variable speed rooftop units; the administrative split unit will be replaced with packaged variable speed rooftop unit; replace pneumatic boxes with single hot zone water reheat units; replace miscellaneous heat units; replace general exhaust fan units; building-wide district digital control system; provide new, high-efficient oil-fired boilers; and variable speed pumping and reconfiguration.

Wingenfield said the current budget for the base program only is $1.3 million to $1.5 million.

In May, the board approved the final contract with the McClure Company for the Guaranteed Energy Savings Project. The project was originally projected to cost $10 million and the district opted to install middle school drop ceilings, and high school science rooms/labs, raising the total for the project to $11.74 million.

The energy savings agreement with McClure Company guarantees 20-year energy and operational savings of $5 million. The board authorized an agreement for expedited work for an August substantial completion.

The district will incur nonelectoral debt of $15.5 million to refund all or a portion of the district’s outstanding general obligation bonds and undertake capital projects including energy savings, roofing and other improvements to various public school buildings and facilities.

The project includes districtwide lighting upgrades; middle school HVAC upgrades and ceiling replacement; middle school/high school/field house roofing upgrades; and district control integration. The high school HVAC and chemistry rooms are scheduled to be done in the summer of 2019, she said.

Wingenfield said the districtwide lighting upgrades consisted of retrofitting/replacing about 5,600 inefficient interior and exterior fixtures to LED.

She said the districtwide building envelope entailed sealing roof to wall transitions, insulating over entrance overhangs, and weather stripping exterior doors and sealing gaps.

The middle school HVAC upgrades and ceiling replacement involved 32 new classroom units, 11 new units for the large group spaces/lab/administrative office, one new chiller, four new boilers, new HVAC controls, targeted ceiling replacement and more.

She said the middle school, high school and field house roofs are being replaced with a new roofing system, with a 30-year warranty.

Wingenfield said Slatington Elementary School, Peters Elementary School and the field house will be integrated into a single, graphical front-end user interface for building automation system control.