ROCHESTER — Numerous cuts have occurred over the past several months as local officials and architects continue to refine the preliminary design for the Richard W. Creteau Regional Technology Center’s renovations.
Among the biggest cuts made to keep the $16.8 million project under budget was a recent decision not to replace the career technical center’s roof trusses. The decision is projected to save more than $1 million.
Years ago, the wooden trusses were coated with a similar formula of the fire retardant chemical recently found to have degraded Gonic School’s trusses to the point of immediate replacement. However, the joint building committee overseeing the Creteau Center project has opted not to replace the tech center’s trusses as part of the renovation project because of the cost and the fact that engineers assure the center’s trusses show nothing more than “normal wear and tear,” according to School Board Vice Chair and Creteau Center JBC Chair Matt Pappas.
“As a result, one of the things we don’t have to do is cut more out of the budget,” he said.
Instead, the city and district will implement a strict atmospheric monitoring program. The program, projected to cost between $10,000 and $15,000 a year, will ensure heat and moisture levels stay below thresholds that could cause a similar reaction to the one attributed to the degradation within Gonic School’s 1987 addition, Pappas said.
Engineers believe the atmospheric differences and variations in the fire retardant compound are among the reasons why the Creteau Center’s trusses show “no immediate problem” compared to the ones at Gonic School, according to Deputy Mayor Ray Varney.
“(The monitoring program) seemed like a better way to go, at least for now,” Varney said at a recent City Council meeting.
Varney went on to say that engineers have “assured” city and school officials that degradation shouldn’t be an issue at the Creteau Center if the atmosphere is closely monitored. Varney, who is the vice chair of the Creteau Center JBC, also acknowledged that members of his committee are “concerned” about the decision.
The Creteau Center’s upgrades will be funded using $12 million from the state ($8 million in this biennium, with the remaining $4 million in the following biennium) and up to $4.8 million from the city. Miscommunication between Rochester and the state last year almost caused Rochester to miss out on the funding, and it also forced the city and school district to scale back the project.
Additional reductions were necessary in the fall after estimates projected the work could be as much as $491,000 over budget. The JBC subsequently reduced the project’s budget by $599,792.42 by eliminating: The installation of a new onsite generator, a roughly $100,000 savings even though generator hookups will still be installed to allow for a future generator installation; the reconfiguration of the Early Child Education room, a $351,000 savings; and, various duct and flooring options that will save roughly $43,000 and $94,000, respectfully.
Additional exterior facade options are being finalized and could affect the budget, according to Pappas. Officials expect the preliminary design will be put out to bid by the end of February, with construction expected to begin in the summer.