By Carol P. Bartold

Jan. 27, 2016:  A recent survey of building conditions at The Bronxville School has revealed that no critical conditions exist requiring urgent work to prevent imminent building damage or address issues of life safety.

Erik Wilson, associate principal at KG&D Architects, presented the results of the comprehensive building conditions survey to the Bronxville Board of Education at its January 21 meeting.

Superintendent Dr. David Quattrone noted, after celebrating the opening of the school's renovated auditorium last month, "I want to use tonight's presentation as a way to pivot from resolving past issues to looking at the future and developing a long-range facilities plan for the district."

Quattrone added that the district, the board, and its facilities committee intend to make the nearly 100-year-old school building more responsive to the changing needs of students and faculty.

The building survey, required by the New York State Education Department to be conducted every five years, and performed by KG&D along with a team of engineers and consultants, will help form the foundation of the district's decisions for developing capital projects. The survey prioritizes work in a wide range of areas, including critical issues, health and safety matters of code compliance, aging infrastructure, and desirable improvements.

Wilson explained that roof repairs and replacements, exterior masonry issues, and lintels over doors and windows that support masonry walls make up the primary issues in matters of health and safety of the school building. In addition, he stated, some interior areas of the building do not have ventilation that meets current code requirements. Wilson described the slate roof to be in fairly good shape. Other roofing materials in various parts of the building, however, are nearing the end of their useful lives and should be addressed.

Infrastructure items not requiring immediate attention but nearing the end of their useful lives make up the bulk of the work recommended in the building survey. It identified ventilation systems and exterior windows that do not function properly and flooring tiles that are wearing out and coming up from the surface. In addition, Wilson said, some paving and asphalt walkways should be replaced. Some of the asphalt conditions have led to drainage issues at the entry drive to the building. Stairways and ramps at the school's front entrance are weathering and will need to be replaced.

The storefront façade in the building's D Wing, along with its heating system, should be replaced, Wilson stated. Not only is the heating system not energy efficient, but leaks have developed along the window wall.

Wilson pointed out that spaces adjacent to the new auditorium, which were not part of the renovation project, should be addressed. "There is a need to bring everything [in the adjacent spaces] to the same level in that area of the building," he said.

Desirable improvements suggested are a reconfiguration of the guidance office area and capturing the spaces below the auditorium that used to house boilers. Wilson stated that, with some modifications to egress and windows, and after completion of the Federal Emergency Management Agency Midland Valley Drainage Project, those areas could be viable classroom space. Wilson also suggested that opportunities exist to improve the function of the courtyard area near the cafeteria.

"All of these things are waiting in line to command our attention and effort," Dr. Quattrone said, "as we move forward to take a building that was built 100 years ago and bring it into the 21st century."

The Bronxville Board of Education will hold a budget workshop on Saturday, February 6, at 9:00 am. The next regular meeting will be Thursday, February 25, at 7:00 pm. Both meetings will be held in the school's multipurpose room.

Pictured here:  The Bronxville Board of Education at the January 21, 2016, meeting.

Photo by N. Bower