Based on the SFC’s recommendation, the cost to keep all three schools (Hardy, Hunnewell and Upham) open is too cost prohibitive to consider, yet there was never a professional estimate to renovate/build 3 schools at moderate sizes early on in the process. Only until recent pushback from the community did the SFC ask their architechts for cost estimates for 3 schools at moderate sizes.
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Why aren't we taking time to research cost and how to make a 3-school scenario more affordable? There were years of research dedicated to a 2-school proposal. How much time was spent thinking about how we can make a 3-school solution more cost effective?
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What do these cost estimates include? Is there a way to scale back design to provide modern learning environments for our kids, without going overboard?
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What about alternative building scenarios? Will prefab construction help us save money?
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Estimates from the SFC original proposal seem inflated:
- “For the new Upham, we estimate 81,722 gross square feet (GSF) at a cost of approximately $430 per GSF, for a total of $35,140,460. This figure also includes soft costs, site improvements, and inflation assumed to the years of construction. The Hunnewell renovation/addition is approximately $465 per GSF with all of the same caveats and including the significant costs for the parking improvements." - David Lussier
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Compare to other school construction costs:
- A new elementary school in Arlington, Thompson Elementary School (57.600 sf), was built in 2013 for $14 million ($243 per sf).
- In 2002, Sprague School (65,000 square feet) was renovated for $12.8 million ($196 per sf). Sprague school is 25,000 sf larger than Hardy at 40,000 sf.
- Renovation and expansion in 2002 of the Broadmeadow School in Needham (87,000 sf) cost $12.5 million ($143 per sf).