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A tie for two remodel options for Riverdale High School remodel resulted in one choice, which is moving forward in the design phase.

Riverdale High School staff dwindled down five to six remodel scenarios  down to two, which ultimately resulted in Scenario D, which was the preference of school administration. The cost of the remodel is $41.5 million, which has a projected increase of $5 to $15 million.

The option includes 14 new classrooms for the science building, kitchen and dining remodel and enlargement, existing gymnasium renovated to a multi-purpose space, existing science classrooms remodeled to general classrooms, existing culinary academy relocated to the locker room and building 38 “concretable” repaired.

Reichenbacher said the remodel expands the cafeteria, as well as creating a multi-purpose room with the old gym. He said they have begun the design and are completing the documents and will have estimates and station costs moving forward.

J Elementary School and the MM Middle School (LAMS) addition

Construction Project Management Director Scott Reichenbacher said they received their structural package, 60 percent for drawings and will probably have a good feel of where the GMP will go around January.

The expansion of MM Middle School (LAMS), according to the design team, ADG Architecture, the schematic design, 30 percent, cost opinion is $3,727,215, or $242.20 per square foot. The general contractor, Owen-Ames-Kimball has an estimate of $3,735,504, or $249.03 per square foot.

The final budget estimate is $3,735,504.

For the new J Elementary School, ADG Architecture has a price tag of $34,457.112, or $269.08 per square foot and Owen-Ames-Kimball has an estimate of $34,605,810, or $270.25 per square foot.

“At 60 percent it will tighten up a little bit closer. This is going to have an inflation factor once GMP goes out to bid as well,” Reichenbacher said.

The final budget estimate is $34,605,810.

VPAA and Old LAMS campus remodel

Reichenbacher said right now they put an emphasis on remodeling the old LAMS campus, which included participation from the principal for all the designs.

“It’s coming along nice. The project team is excited. It is going to be a noticeable transformation. We are at about $11.5 million with $24 million allotted. It will leave us enough to do an auditorium building,” he said.

With that said Lee County has asked for the auditorium to be “hardened” as a shelter.

The remaining portions will not support the hardening, Reichenbacher said, adding that Emergency Operation Center wants to be the district’s partner.

The proposed preliminary budget estimate from the architect is $9,446,648.13. The construction manager’s final budget estimate is $11,589,616.

Transportation Dispatch Building Buckingham

The job is underway, according to Reichenbacher for the East Zone Transportation Dispatch Building. He said they received approval from traffic for minor striping.

The work will include replacing the old rotten portables and providing a new facility for transportation staff. The total project cost is $1,508,895.32.

The presentation also included an oversight of why costs are increasing for capital projects.

Reichenbacher said what they are seeing right now across the board is liability insurance has gone up a million dollars, which as driven insurance rates through the roof. He also said anything that has metal has gone up 25 to 30 percent in price and the duration to acquire materials has prolonged.

“Material lead times could put us in a predicament,” Reichenbacher said of opening schools on time. “It is industry wide. There is a lack of supply and demand. The market has depleted.”

He said everything they do is for inside the classroom to make sure it is the best classroom they can have.

“I prefer not to spend a lot of money on the outside. To be frugal and economical. That has been our direction since I have been here,” Reichenbacher said when he started with the district in 2004.

Editor’s note: This story has been corrected. Owen-Ames-Kimball is the general contractor for MM Middle School.