Photos by Sally Bahner
Once again, Quisenberry Arcari Architects, the architect for the Community House/Senior Center, came under fire by the Public Building Commission for delays in the project.
Commissioners grilled Project Manager Brian Park at last week’s meeting held at Fire Headquarters. Leonard Tamsin, Jr. said that the project is “lagging on critical paths.” He expressed concern that the building would not be fully enclosed, with roof and exterior walls, before winter.
Project completion was originally scheduled for October, then postponed to January, then February and now to April.
Delays have included the need to install new sanitary sewer lines after problems were discovered during excavation and steel fabrication.
Despite the delays, the $12.1 million project is still on budget.
Although Dave Secondino, construction manager, appeared at the September meeting his lack of regular attendance at meetings was concerning to the commissioners.
Both Tamsin and Bob Barnett spoke forcefully about the need for Secondino to provide a plan to move the project forward. Barnett said there was a “serious disconnect” and that it was a “systemic problem.”
They made a motion for Secondino to produce “a step-by-step plan to complete a critical path of items needed to enclose the building, including roof and exterior walls.”
The commission passed the motion and noted that communication will be sent out to Secondino based on the motion.
Commissioners also discussed and approved various PCOs (potential change orders) concerning kitchen equipment, masonry work, flooring, and patio stairs, but after discussion, put the PCO regarding woodfold roll up doors, costing more than $28,000 on hold, along with some flooring changes at almost $10,000.
They approved payment of invoices to Secondino totaling $317,000.
Walsh Update
While the $88.2 million Walsh Intermediate School has had a few unexpected issues, such as the relocation of a water line, it remains on schedule. The project managers for both the Community Center and Walsh have said in their updates over the months that they often encounter such things in older construction; the Community House was built in 1963, Walsh in 1972.
Commissioners put construction-related issues aside to discuss a presentation by Frank Carrano of Branford Arts Council and Jay Babina, artist and graphic designer, who want to coordinate a “Call for Artists” for an art project at Walsh.
Carrano (right) said the first step is to identify what is preferred and where it would be installed (preferably in a public area), a stand-alone piece or mural, decide on a theme, then invite artists to submit designs, followed by a selection process. He said that New Haven has a set-aside fund for public art and that he can provide examples of public art in schools.
“Now is a good time to begin the process,” he said. “It will be an important element of the building.” He added that since next year is the 375th anniversary of Branford’s founding, a commemorative theme might be considered.
Babina spoke in favor of a “bas relief” mural, which is a type of three-dimensional wall art.
Chair Peter Banca said he wanted to be sure the art project would be “within budget constraints,” but Carrano assured him that there are “resources in town.”
In other Walsh business, Scott Pellman of Collier’s International, the owner’s rep, said that phase 2 of the renovation is being coordinated, which will again require the relocation of the nurses’ station and student health services, as well as the music department. They’re also finalizing furniture that will be needed.
Chris Touissant of Fusco, construction manager, reported that steel fabrication is taking place in Hartford and will be delivered the second week of November. Concrete footings are currently going in, he said.
The project is on schedule.
If you attended meetings early on in the Rec Dept over haul, you know why this is a mess. The architects were never able to give straight answers. They were not considering any issues that many people brought up and are now issues. Their timeline to get it done was a pipe dream that is now a nightmare. Unless there was an earthquake, how can this relatively modest project that was supposed to be about a 16 month project take another 6 months? And I'll believe that when I see it. It's great that it's supposedly still on budget, but the incompetency here is obvious. And it doesn't help that the loss of the rec dept courts is being even more disruptive, as Hamlet is not standing behind his promise to work with the town in making all of the schools courts available to the various youth sports programs. But that was expected.