Revere High School project on track for winter move-in as committee OKs field lighting plan

By Barbara Taormina

The Revere High School Building Committee received an update on construction from Darren Peeler, senior project manager for Consigli Construction. Peeler showed the committee slides of the site and the work taking place. Ground improvements are making way for the installation of foundations. Peeler told committee members they would see progress on foundations next month.

The steel for the project is in production with a delivery date scheduled for mid-July. “We are getting the foundation in before the steel hits the site,” said Peeler. “And then we start throwing up the steel as fast as we can.”

Although Peeler said work on the foundations was starting early, he stressed that the project is not planning a summer move in. “We are where we were a month ago,” said Peeler. “We are still targeting a winter holiday move in.”

The committee approved an amendment from Consigli to spend $129,173,500 to install lighting for the two athletic fields near the front of the building. Facilities Director Carl Svendsen said that despite the $1.8 million in savings to move forward without lighting didn’t make sense.

“I can’t picture fields without lighting,” said Svendsen. “The fields are a potential revenue source.” Svendsen said the revenue generated by field rentals could be used to bolster the Parks and Recreation Department.

“If we start talking about not putting lights, we might as well talk about not putting in fields,” said Svendsen.

The committee voted to accept the Consigli amendment to include lighting.

Jason Flood, a senior project manager for Consigli, updated the committee on an important upcoming milestone, the GMP budget (or guaranteed maximum price budget). Flood explained three major elements of the GMP, a summary which includes costs from subcontractors and any potential change orders. Flood also highlighted an “allowances and hold” section of the GMP. That includes pending design elements and covers any costs or risks not included in the budget. Flood said this was a critical aspect of protecting the budget. A GMP schedule will also be fully incorporated into the GMP agreement between the city and the construction manager.

According to Brian Dakin, senior project manager for Left Field, the project remains four percent under budget at $395 million, which is excellent news for a project of this size. The bids from subcontractors came in 25 million less than anticipated. Dakin mentioned that some of those savings could help the city if the eminent domain lawsuit over the Wonderland site requires a higher payment for the land.