Photograph by Dai Sugano

Art Rodriguez of ESI works on projects slated for Aug. 27 completion at SHS.




High school construction may be done early, more cheaply

By Jason Baker

Saratoga and Los Gatos high school construction projects could be completed sooner than anticipated--with money to spare--if a newly adopted implementation plan goes according to schedule.

Los Gatos-Saratoga Joint Union High School District trustees on Aug. 3 approved the hiring of Gilbane Building Company to oversee project and construction management services for the district's $79 million renovation and construction project.

The board additionally approved a refined implementation plan, presented by Gilbane, that shortens the time for project completion from 10 years to about six years. Barring unforeseen complications, officials said, the newly adopted plan also should allow for an estimated $2.8 million in contingency money that could be used by the district for additional projects.

Voters in June of 1998 successfully passed the Measure B bond initiative to fund renovation and construction. To fund the measure, homeowners will pay an average of $35 per $100,000 of assessed property value, not market value. Geoff Teall, assistant superintendent of administrative services/chief business officer, said that rate should not change under the new plan. As with the original plan, the rate is subject to the rate of property value growth in the district, which continues to increase yearly.

"We think if the rate of growth continues, even at a lower rate, the $35 average will not change," Teall said. "It could very well be less."

Essentially, by compressing the length of time needed for project completion, the revised implementation plan saves money that would be lost to inflation during the additional four years, Teall said. The first $20 million of bond money was issued earlier this year, with three more series of bonds to be issued in the future.

"I think the Gilbane company has done a marvelous service and provided a brilliant plan for us," he said.

Bob Crowder, Gilbane's project executive, said the revised implementation plan condenses the project schedule but allows more time for each project by scheduling work year-round instead of only six months. But the plan won't mean a lot of work being done at one time, which could disrupt students and teachers, he said.

It instead employs engineering and coordinating project flow, allowing work to be done on buildings that are not occupied and float time between projects as needed. The revised implementation plan targets all projects for completion by 2004 rather than 2008 as originally proposed.

The selection of Gilbane came after the district submitted a public request for proposals to find a construction-management firm for the project. Richard Meyer, district director of building projects, said that in regards to the specific qualifications the district sought in a construction-management firm, the Gilbane proposal received the highest marks. The company's history and experience, integrity, toughmindedness and teamwork made Gilbane stand out above other bidders, he said.

The trade publication Engineering News Record recently ranked Gilbane second in the country among construction managers of education facilities. The firm has managed or constructed school facilities totaling more than $1 billion since 1990. Educational facilities represent about 42 percent of the company's annual new contracts. The company was founded in Rhode Island in 1873 and has offices in 20 cities across the country, including San Francisco and Sacramento.

This summer, workers began the first projects, which included mechanical renovation and restroom upgrades at both campuses. In addition, Meyer said, workers repaired 30,000 square feet of roofing at SHS, which had been a source of ongoing problems. The summer projects are scheduled for completion on Aug. 27.

"We fixed a lot of areas that have been problems over the years," Meyer said. "These projects were a good test model for what's ahead."

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