JOINT MEETING OF THE PUBLIC BUILDING AND SITE COMMISSION WITH THE BOARD OF EDUCATION (with the Board of Education chairing the meeting)
THESE MINUTES ARE SUBJECT TO APPROVAL BY THE PUBLIC BUILDING AND SITE COMMISSION AND THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.
Minutes of the Special Meeting of the Public Building and Site Commission and Board of Education held on Tuesday, February 11, 2014 in the Library of the Reed School, Newtown, CT
The PB&S Commission called their meeting to order at 7:30 pm.
Board of Education Chairman Debbie Leidlein called the meeting to order at 7:30 pm.
PRESENT: BOARD OF EDUCATION: Keith Alexander, Michelle Embree Ku, David Freedman, Kathy Hamilton, Debbie Leidlein (Chair), Laura Roche, John Vouros , Ron Bienkowski, and John Reed (Superintendent); PUBLIC BUILDING AND SITE COMMISSION: Robert Mitchell (Chair), Joseph Borst, Thomas Catalina, Anthony D’Angelo, Roger Letso, Pete Samoskevich. ALSO PRESENT: Clerk of the Works William Knight, Geralyn Hoerauf from Diversified Project Management, three representatives from Svigals & Partners, Several members of the public and press.
SCHEMATIC DESIGN REVIEW SANDY HOOK SCHOOL PROJECT
Barry Svigal, Julia McFadden and Alana Konefal from Svigal & Partners used a PowerPoint to present three design schemes they prepared for the new Sandy Hook School. Discussion began with the proposed enhancement of Riverside Road in order to ease traffic flow. An animation of the enhanced Dickinson Drive approach to the school was shown which portrays buffers, plantings and architectural details to portray a welcoming entrance to the new school. There will be increased parking for staff and visitors and a dedication bus loop lane to assist traffic circulation. The building will be set on the east end of the property with the fields on the west side.
The design team presented three options for the building itself: (1) the Main Street scheme, (2) the Courtyard scheme, and (3) a Hybrid of the two. They answered questions proposed by all present with members of the Board of Education and the Design and Advisory board individually all expressing their preference to the Main Street theme. Comments ranged from it having a sense of simplicity and more ease of navigation for children and parents to it making the best use of the site and using a smaller footprint on the property. The architects also noted it is approximately 10% more energy efficient that the other two schemes.
The architects explained that the classroom wings in the back face the woods, giving it a treehouse effect with its southerly exposure providing better light. Courtyards between the wings will provide opportunities for creative outdoor space (yet to be determined). The concaved, curved front of the building houses the administration, library, cafeteria, etc. and provides a warm and secure welcome.
Members of the commissions asked questions about safety and layers of security. The Main Street theme allows classroom corridors to be locked down individually. The site water detention swales in the front of the building serves two purposes; it provides a warm welcoming for the children with natural water and vegetative elements while creating a buffer between the parking / drop off area and the school. Service vehicles use the bus loop with a service entry is on the west end near the cafeteria and
custodial area. The west end of the building houses the gym and cafeteria (cafetorium) that are divided
with a stage area that can have multiple uses. When questions about security arose, John Reed said there will be continued discussion and analysis occurring with regards to security technology. The architects have met with the State on a continuing basis to help facilitate any hurdles.
The architects had met with a variety of groups to review the program elements, Ed Spec and educational issues that were concerns. These were taken into account as a variety of design approaches were developed. These were also reviewed with the educational and administrative groups, narrowing the approaches to the three that met the majority of comments and concerns. These were presented to the joint meeting of the BoE and the PB&S Commission for information and comments.
The design approaches speak to the site, utilizing the site access and shape of the property to best advantage. Key elements were better site circulation, more parking and a better bus flow. These were used to create security buffer zones, allowing early indications if someone did not belong on the property.
There is no development at the “incident area.”
The school is situated at the southern side of the site, taking maximum advantage of the sun position, forested wetlands and a reflection of the natural environment. The site arrival sequence through the defined drives and parking areas provides the ability to create security zones that can be further developed as part of the integrated security programs.
All the approaches stressed a development of the natural environment as part of the building design. They reflect a close tie of Sandy Hook to the Pootatuck River that runs through it. The entry to the school would be over and through a conservation area that also acts as a security zone.
General comments from the BoE and PB&S were requested for each approach.
Main Street Approach
- This is a two story option with a central vertical circulation core, acting as a focus, bringing the natural environment into the entry.
- There is a single curved main corridor curving through the plan with several academic corridors emanating from this spine for each academic wing.
- The administrative areas are situated along the front of the school, facing the parking lots, with the academic wings toward the rear.
- The plan shows a simplicity and efficiency of space.
- The plan allows for a variety of security options as the plans would be developed.
- The plan creates a series of courtyards off the classroom wings that allow for added sunlight, added security and access to exterior teaching spaces.
- Small gathering areas are present at the ends of the wings, overlooking the forested space. These were referred to a “treehouses.”
- This approach was the most efficient in space usage, probably the most cost effective. It would also provide the most efficient energy modeling.
Courtyard Approach
- This option locates the two story library at the central entrance to the school, with internal courtyards on each side. Corridors wrap around the courtyards and lead to the academic clusters at the rear of the school.
- There seems to be a loss of focus on nature and a loss of views to the surrounding forested areas.
- Corridors would open onto the courtyards which would be planted with “maintenance free” greenery.
- There is an internal focus to the plan.
- Security issues would be handled in a similar manner to the Main Street Approach.
- The approach generates a good deal of corridor areas, allowing the students more room to roam and for parents to navigate.
Hybrid Approach
- As the name indicates, this option incorporates segments for each of the other two approaches.
- There are two main streets, one administrative and one academic.
- The courtyards are smaller, more pocket courtyards.
- The approach generates a larger footprint and less efficiency.
- Security issues would be handled in a similar manner to the Main Street Approach.
- The approach generates a good deal of corridor areas, allowing the students more room to roam and for parents to navigate.
- This is a less energy efficient approach.
The general view was that the Main Street Approach met the most program elements and concerns of the BoE and PB&S. This approach should be further developed for the Schematic Design presentations.
NEXT STEPS
The architects will move forward with a security review. They will continue to meet with the State to review and refine standards. School safety infrastructure guidelines have been drafted. They will do energy modeling and will continue to meet with the Land Use Agency representatives regarding the permitting process. The schematic design will close by March 14, 2014 followed by three weeks of estimating and then setting a budget. Following that is setting the construction schedule.
There will be examinations of the sustainable energy potentials for the school. These will be developed in a capital cost vs ongoing energy cost format for future discussions.
The Project Team will be reviewing the documents with the State agencies for security concerns and standards.
The project schedule is being developed with methods for completing the project on the original dates, with options for construction methods to speed the process.
The Schematic Design Package is scheduled for completion and review on March 14. Following that a full cost estimate will be developed.
After all questions and comment were raised, Mr. Letsco motioned to close the meeting of the Public Building and Site Commission meeting. Mr. Catalina seconded the motion and unanimously passed.
Mr. Alexander motioned to close the meeting of the Board of Ed which was seconded by Mr. Freedman and unanimously passed. The combined meeting adjourned at 9:30 pm.
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