Projects at 3 Albemarle schools on time; competition keeps costs under budget

Albemarle County officials say renovation work at three schools — Albemarle High and Greer and Brownsville elementary schools — is on time and under budget.

About $27.6 million was budgeted for the projects, which includes a 30,000-square-foot addition at Brownsville, 29,000 square feet of additions at Albemarle High and a new gym at Greer.

County officials estimated construction alone would cost $22.4 million. However, the winning bids were $2.4 million under budget, according to Montie Breeden, a senior project manager for Albemarle’s Office of Facilities Development.

“We had a large number of bidders on the projects, which was an indication that work was slowing down for them,” Breeden said. “So there was high competition … and we were able to get really good prices.”

In addition to construction, other expenses, including design and furniture costs, are expected to be a few million dollars, but school officials say they’ll be able to stay well under the $27.6 million budget.

Construction began at all three schools in June. Bill Letteri, Albemarle’s director of facilities development, said all three projects, which are about 60 percent complete, are expected to be finished by August.

The additions at Albemarle High School include a new wing that will have six traditional classrooms, three science rooms, a learning lab and space for support services.

Workers are also adding a lobby to a wing of the school designated for athletics and refurbishing the auditorium, which will include a secondary entrance.

Others additions at AHS include an outside cafeteria patio, a multi-purpose room attached to an existing gym and additional administrative offices.

About $11.4 million was budgeted for the Albemarle High project. The winning construction bid was about $9.2 million, more than $300,000 below budget.

The 30,000-square-foot addition at Brownsville includes a new gym, an expanded area for cafeteria seating, 10 classrooms, four resource rooms, five offices and a faculty workroom. The existing main office is also being renovated. The total budget for the project was $10.3 million, but the winning bid for construction was $6.7 million, about $1.5 million below budget.

The School Board is set to receive a proposal Thursday to request an additional $800,000 from the Board of Supervisors for renovations to the existing building at Brownsville, including lighting enhancements and improvements to bathrooms.

At Greer, a new gym and front entryway are being added. Interior renovations are also being made to the lower level of the existing school, to include additional windows, enclosed classrooms and more resource rooms.

About $5.9 million was budgeted for the project. The winning construction bid was $4.1 million, $600,000 below budget.

A second phase of work is being planned for Greer, which would include additional classrooms, Letteri said, adding that construction is expected to be completed in late 2011, assuming that funds are made available in 2010.