By Carol P. Bartold     

Sep. 2, 2015:  With less than a week until the opening of school for the 2015-2016 academic year, construction crews are still working to complete the long-overdue Bronxville School auditorium.

“There is still a lot to do,” Dan Carlin, assistant superintendent for business, told the Bronxville Board of Education at its August 31 meeting. “We’re not happy,” Carlin stated, about the amount still to be done; however, the quality of design and work on the auditorium are both “stunning.”

The district plans to host an auditorium opening reception on Thursday, September 17, at 5:30 pm.

Certificate of Occupancy:  KG&D Architects, the district architect, is scheduled to conduct a walk-through of the auditorium on Thursday, September 3, to determine whether a certificate of occupancy can be issued. In New York State, Carlin said, the architect issues the certificate.

Although the district does not anticipate the project's being completely finished by September 8, the first day of school, Carlin stated that a partial certificate of occupancy for the band rooms in back of the stage could be obtained to begin the school year in light of work still to be completed.

Technical equipment and some lighting still need to be installed in the auditorium- proper. Carlin said that there is also “a fairly significant punch list” of items that must be completed to satisfy the construction contract.

Carlin anticipates that the contractor will achieve critical milestones over the last week of summer vacation that will result in a level of completion that allows use of the space. He reported that the construction trailer will be removed from the site this week. Exterior steps into the lobby have been formed and concrete will be poured by the end of the week. Steel rails will be installed inside and outside. Masonry work on the lobby exterior continues.

Budget:  Carlin also reported that, after receiving a budget update from the architect, the auditorium and the middle school science classroom renovation costs are about $300,000 below the $10 million budget for both projects. The cost of the project decreased by approximately $100,000 in liquidated damages for not completing the auditorium by the agreed-upon June 20, 2015, date. Liquidated damages are charged at a rate of $1,000 per day for each day of construction beyond that date.

“The replacement contractor made steady progress,” Carlin said, “but much slower than agreed to in the takeover and much slower than we want.”

Liquidated damages, as well as fees for the architect and construction manager onsite six months longer than anticipated, and attorney fees will also be charged back to the surety.

Pictured here:  The outside of the new school auditorium not quite completed.

Photo by Carol P. Bartold