Hess Construction and Engineering Services of Gaithersburg landed contracts from Montgomery County Public Schools to help build a new school in Clarksburg and expand one in Bethesda.http://www.gazette.net/article/20120803/NEWS/708039712/-1/newswatch-hess-snares-contracts-for-montgomery-county-schools&template=gazette
The company will provide preconstruction services and manage construction of the $25 million Clarksburg Cluster Elementary School. Construction of the two-story, 85,000-square-foot school on a 13-acre site is to begin in January and run about 18 months.
It was designed by Grimm and Parker Architects of Calverton to achieve gold certification through the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design program. Features will include a geothermal energy system, zoned heating and air conditioning systems with individual room thermostats, a green roof, sloped ceilings, occupancy sensor control light fixtures, water-conserving plumbing fixtures and preferred parking spaces for carpools.
Hess also was contracted to manage construction of a $13 million expansion of Westbrook Elementary School in Bethesda. The project is to add 60,000 square feet — including 11 classrooms, a music room, conference rooms and gym — to the existing 54,000-square-foot, 1930s building and update its interior. Construction is to last 17 months and finish in the fall of 2013.
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So, 2 contracts for project management. One, for $13M for expansion of existing; and one for $25M for a new ES. That is project management only. How much did the design cost? What about the site prep, the construction? The maintenance and operation? By comparison, the County Council assured the citizens and taxpayers of the county that the new required ES in the White Flint Sector would be covered by the amount of money the developers would provide, i.e., first, $20M or, as the developers later stated to the Council, $40M (as usual, numbers don't really matter as long as the Council can raise taxes). So, what do these real numbers say about how much the new ES in the WF Sector will cost? Thanks Janis and The Gazette for providing real data. What a breath of fresh air.
ReplyDeleteHess did the construction of FSK Middle School a few years ago and not only delivered a LEED Certified school which has pleased all, but worked with neighbors, and kept the local citizen's association in the loop. Issues such as closed sidewalks, blasting, road dirt, and other construction issues were more reasonably worked out with Hess folks. The Construction Manager also made sure that we had regular aerials as the school progressed. Not all of the General Contractors used by MCPS are so responsive to those who live in the area.
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh! Is this comment from a Public Relations firm or what?
DeleteSorry, couldn't be farther from the truth. We received a complaint about the Francis Scott Key Middle School construction, and we blogged about it.
http://parentscoalitionmc.blogspot.com/2010/10/on-previous-post-announcing-6-surprise.html
It seems that the concern of your old post was retaining walls. Not a design element that comes to the top of anyone's list, but at times a necessary evil. The school property is small and constrained in an existing 60s-era subdivision with bad topography--not all of the county is flat!
DeleteIt was lamentable that the neighbors did not take the many opportunities to weigh in during the design phase of the project--the phase that Hess was not involved with at all. The site layout/school design was done by Lukmire Partnerships.
What's lamentable is that you don't have the courage of your convictions, anonymous. Go ahead. Sign your name. You are getting paid to put these comments on this post. Sign your name and get credit for your work.
DeleteHere in Montgomery County, we KNOW that NO school building is designed with a public process. The "design phase" is just a VERY, VERY preliminary discussion to pacify the public, but has no real relationship to the final building design. The final design is NEVER made public. It is never seen. The final building is ALWAYS a SURPRISE to the neighbors.
And thanks for the laugh! Retaining walls are "not a design element that comes to the top of anyone's list?" Meet the hundreds of neighbors of the Cabin John Middle School. They would prove you wrong.
Thanks for the laugh. Hope you get paid well for your time.
25 million is their budget? I can't wait to see the brand new construction!!
ReplyDelete-Adam Ahmed
Has the Westbrook ES 1930s building been reviewed by the county's Historic Preservation Commission, does anyone know? Buildings that are 50 years of age or older are considered possibly eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places and are usually reviewed prior to additions or demolition. If someone knows, can you please post here? Thanks.
ReplyDelete