Marlboro receives update on Vision 2020

By Mark Reynolds
Posted 12/11/19

Last week the Marlboro School Board was given a comprehensive update on the district’s 2020 Vision Capital Project by CSArch architect and Project Manager Matthew Zyrkowski. Marlborough …

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Marlboro receives update on Vision 2020

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Last week the Marlboro School Board was given a comprehensive update on the district’s 2020 Vision Capital Project by CSArch architect and Project Manager Matthew Zyrkowski. Marlborough residents approved the $19.5 million project last May by a vote of 469 to 426 that is slated to begin in May 2020 and will take 15 months to complete.
Zyrkowski said last summer his company checked the dimensions of every room, the windows, exit paths, and fire extinguishers in all three schools. During the summer CSArch sent out Requests For Proposals for the land surveying work and the needed geo-technical and environmental consulting work. The Chazen Company completed the surveying and geo-technical items and the Adelaide Company handled the environmental details.

Zyrkowski said they also looked at issues inside the schools.

“We fielded a lot of comments and concerns mainly around space constraints, storage, accessibility and flexibility and we feel that moving forward we have a set of documents that is going to be best tailored for the means of the district,” he said.

CSArch has finished design renderings for all three schools and a site plan for the Middle School. The information for this design phase was gathered last summer.

Zyrkowski said he will coordinate their work with the Siemens Company, who are handling the Energy Performance Contract, and update the board on the Smart Schools Bond Initiative.

Zyrkowski said in designing the project they have paid close attention to precepts of the “The Three A’s”; Academics, Arts and Athletics.

Zyrkowski said they are wrapping up their drawings that will be sent to the NYS Education Department for their review and approval.

David LaTour, of Jacobs Engineering Group, said his company has received all of the design development documents.

“We understand the complete scope of work as it stands right now [and] we have the first draft of our phasing plan together. We plan to go through it this next week with the administration,” he said. “Everybody’s excited about the program and everybody’s all in.”

LaTour said when the 2020-21 school year starts they expect to do the construction work mostly at night, “and really hit it hard in the summer of 2021.” He said work at the Middle School will run the entire length of the project because it needs a lot of renovation and rehabilitation work because it was built in 1939.

Each of the three campuses will see improvements. The Elementary School will have a new secured vestibule, a main entrance and student drop-off entry; sound attenuation in the music room; additional recess play amenities; replacement of original wood soffit materials and egress enhancements.

The Middle School is the oldest structure and one of the first priorities is to make it easier and safer for vehicles and students to move across the campus. There will be a new secured entrance, main office and a central shared conference area; an enhanced area for student and family support for Guidance and Psychological services; attention to the gymnasium and lockers; a new music and band addition with improved acoustics that will include a large stage and better practice and storage space; upgrades to toileting building-wide; an Innovation lab, a technology room, and enhancements to the fire and safety systems.

The High School will have a redesigned entrance/main office and shared conference areas, including student support services; a nursing suite; a redesigned and more open dining area; enhancements to the art room with 2D and 3D studios and computer graphics; a new fitness center; and enhancements to the performing arts and the music program. The outdoor track and the field turf will be refurbished and the high jump will be relocated.

School Board President Frank Milazzo thanked Superintendent Michael Brooks and the team of CSArch.

“This is probably the most collaboration and input that’s ever happened on a capital project because they’ve all been involved in just that; how’s it going to work and what do they need to make it work...Obviously everybody knows that until the final bids come in there may be things that have to get cut, but nobody’s thoughts, concerns or really how to make it better weren’t taken into account in a lot of detail.”

Superintendent Brooks thanked CSArch and his administrative staff for the wonderful job they have done.

“I think one of the more important elements is once these spaces are constructed [it will] truly make the programs within them become something more than they are now.”