Jan. 22, 2014:  Bronxville students, their parents, and residents who travel on Pondfield Road near Meadow Avenue will see construction begin on The Bronxville School's auditorium renovation project February 10. The Bronxville Board of Education, at its regular meeting on January 16, awarded four contracts for the project, which will also cover the renovation and upgrading of middle school science classrooms.

Plans for the renovated auditorium call for increasing the current seating capacity from 347 seats to 508. The balcony, currently unsafe for use, will be restored, and new side balconies with removable seating will be added. A new vestibule entrance lobby with an outdoor terrace and ramp will face the school's main lawn and will provide a gathering place apart from building corridors.

The auditorium stage will be extended forward and include a stage apron to allow performers to come out into the house. A new control room will allow for lighting and sound control to be set from inside the shell of the auditorium. According to Erik Wilson, associate principal of KG&D, the district architects, the budget for renovation includes approximately $500,000 for new lighting, sound, and other technical equipment recommended by audiovisual and theater consultants. Wilson stated that, due to rapid changes in technology and prices that tend to decrease as technology advances, this equipment will be purchased near the end of construction.

"We are very pleased with the number of bids that came in," said Dr. James Hudson, chairman of the board's facilities committee. "The numbers were very reasonable and came from groups that our architects and construction manager are familiar with."

The board awarded the project's general construction contract for $4,199,673 to Kenstar Construction Corp. of Bohemia, New York. Pearl River Plumbing, Heating & Electric, Inc. of Pearl River, New York, won the plumbing contract with its $342,772 bid. Mengler Mechanical, Inc. of Brewster, New York, received a $1,076,200 contract for HVAC work, and Lippolis Electric, Inc. of Pelham, New York, received a $1,400,000 contract for electrical work. The total cost comes to $7,018,645.

Beginning February 10, the area in front of the school from Meadow Avenue to the building's main entrance will be fenced off to serve as a staging area for construction trailers, vehicles, and other equipment throughout construction. Erik Wilson stated that the school's main entrance will remain open during the auditorium's yearlong construction period. There will be no permanent staging along Meadow Avenue or Midland Avenue.

Ground-floor classrooms facing the construction staging area will have a buffer zone to allow for fire egress, if needed, and that buffer will be maintained throughout the anticipated one-year construction period.

Wilson estimates that auditorium demolition will begin February 17. KG&D and Park East Construction, the district's construction manager, has already consulted with contractors about performing balcony demolition and other heavy demolition during its second shift to minimize noise during the school day, with special attention given to testing days.

"That speaks to the contractors we have," Wilson said. "They're all very familiar with working on occupied school buildings. They get that school comes first and they'll work with the district."

John Kehoe, assistant superintendent, stated that the New York State Education Department approved all access and egress plans for students and staff associated with construction. "We will possibly have to change some drop-off and pick-up times," he said. We may have to change some movements, but it will be done with safety as the primary concern."

Work on the auditorium will continue through the current school year, the summer, and the 2014 fall semester, with February 13, 2015, as the target date for substantial completion.

Contractors will begin demolition for the middle school science classroom and lab renovation on June 27 and will continue through the summer, with the goal of completing the project by September 1, in time for the opening of the 2014-2015 school year.

Bronxville voters approved a $4.5 million bond referendum in October of 2012 as the publicly funded portion of the financing for the $10 million capital improvements program. Private donations and funding through The Bronxville School Foundation will cover the remainder of the costs.

Pictured here:  A rendering of The Bronxville School's auditorium after completion of construction.

Photo courtesy Dr. David Quattrone, superintendent of the Bronxville schools