Sticker shock for the Hildreth House Phase 2 addition is a bit less shocking this week. The Phase 2 Subcommittee met Sept. 13 to discuss a list of options to cut costs on the schematic design for a separate dining and activities building next to the town’s senior center, Hildreth House. The group cut about $250,000 from the project, leaving the new total estimated cost at about $4.5 million.
The subcommittee considered each of the nine items on a list prepared by architect DiGiorgio Associates Inc. (DAI), and determined it would accept five of them, including reducing the building width by 2 feet, removing the two planned dormers, and reducing the landscape allowance. It did not accept removing the roof over the side patio, removing one of the three folding partitions in the dining room, or lowering the quality of the vinyl tile that will be used on the floor.
There was a difference of opinion on the covered side patio. While removing the roof would have saved $82,500, member Beth Williams argued that seniors use the current Hildreth House porch a lot, and the cover is needed to provide shade. The group agreed to keep the roof but eliminate two of the three doors that would have opened onto the patio from the dining room.
Members initially agreed to accept changing the cathedral ceiling to a suspended ceiling, but later in the meeting revisited that decision and decided keeping the open cathedral ceiling would provide necessary character to the interior of the building. The savings for switching to a suspended ceiling was estimated at only $14,500.
At a prior meeting of the Permanent Building Committee (PBC), its members expressed the possible need to connect the new addition to the existing Hildreth House, something that was not included in DAI’s design. DAI Vice President Tom Lam was asked to come up with an option and estimate for connecting the two buildings in a way that would not trigger the requirement to add sprinklers to Hildreth House. At this week’s Phase 2 meeting, Lam told the subcommittee the cost for a connector with a freestanding firewall, which would be required by code, would be $79,000. The group agreed that the connector would get little use and should not be added to the project. They reasoned that most people would either be coming to the addition for activities or to Hildreth House offices or quiet spaces, with little need to move between the two buildings. Lam said the connector could always be added later.
Ledge concern boosts contingency
Lam also addressed the PBC’s concern about the contingencies in the project being too high. He told the Phase 2 group the contingencies are currently high because the drawings are not yet detailed, and there is little information about the site, especially how much ledge will be uncovered there. He added that, at an earlier Phase 2 meeting, PBC member Rick Maiore asked him to raise the construction contingency from 15% to 20%. As more is known about the site, contingencies could be lowered, Lam said.
Phase 2 Subcommittee Chair Guy Oliva said the group could also consider lowering the $250,000 figure in the estimate for furnishings, since at least a portion of the kitchen equipment will be purchased with donations. Member Connie Larrabee said the Council on Aging already has a donation designated for a commercial dishwasher. No action was taken on lowering the furnishings number.
Subcommittee members also asked Lam to draw an option that would remove the portion of the main corridor that separated the kitchen and dining room in DAI’s design. They reasoned that it would be easier to serve directly from the kitchen to the dining room without walking across a hallway.
This week, on Sept. 17, Lam presented the addition design and estimate to the Council on Aging board. Members had few comments about the plan or the estimate, but they did like DAI’s drawing that connected the kitchen to the dining room, and they asked Lam to put that in the final plan.
DAI’s final tasks are to prepare a final set of schematic drawings and to meet with the building inspector to determine if a commercial range hood would be required in the kitchen to meet code, something Lam promised the PBC he would do.
The next step for the Phase 2 group is to finalize its request for funding in time for the Capital Planning and Investment Committee’s Oct. 3 deadline. That deadline must be met for the project to go on the warrant for Annual Town Meeting in 2020. The COA board will meet again Oct. 1 and vote on whether to approve the capital request.
