School Building Committee

Office of the City Manager City Hall ● 375 Merrimack Street ● Lowell, MA 01852 P: 978.674.4000 ● F: 978.970.4007 www.LowellMA.gov Eileen Donoghue City Manager School Building Committee Meeting Meeting Minutes Date: January 23, 2020 Time: 5:00 PM Location: City Council Chambers School Building Committee Members Present: Eileen Donoghue, John Leahy, Rodney Elliott, Connie Martin, Conor Baldwin, Maryann Ballotta, Christine Clancy, David Peaslee, Diane Tradd, Richard Underwood, Mike Vaughn, Jeff Wilson, William Samaras City Staff Present: Kara Keefe Mullin, Alex Magee, Phil Geoffroy Perkins Eastman Consultants Present: Dawn Guariello, Joe Drown, Ashley Ianucelli Skanska Consultants Present: Maryann Williams, Dale Caldwell E. Donoghue called meeting to order at 5:01 PM. Roll call showed 12 present. Minutes of October 2019 accepted, all in favor. J. Drown gave presentation on design progress. He noted the many meetings that have occurred over the last few months, occurring multiple times per week with various groups including City departments, school departments, boards and groups, focus groups, community groups. J. Drown introduced D. Guariello to go over latest in design. D. Guariello noted some of the design features. She noted not too many changes to report, but that things were progressing along in the design development phase. Noted some phasing issues have caused some changes in design. D. Guariello introduced some design images and discussed their updated designs, including a new main entrance. W. Samaras questioned the location of the kitchen and server, which D. Guariello pointed out and explained. D. Guariello noted the design of the “heart of the school”. W. Samaras questioned the location of the bridge; J. Drown noted ongoing study options. W. Samaras noted he does not accept the current design solutions pertaining to the bottleneck that exists at end of the bridge over the canal. D. Guariello noted some potential options to reduce the bottleneck. D. Peaslee agreed with W. Samaras and that the area becomes a point of contention. E. Donoghue noted this is a helpful concern and she will revisit this with the national parks staff. D. Guariello moved on to the second floor designs. She discussed the orientation of the gymnasium. D. Guariello introduced A. Ianucelli to discuss the landscape architecture and bio- retention. She noted importance of bio-retention and how design can include sustainability options. She stated this would be the first bio-retention area in the City. A. Ianucelli moved on to discuss some design areas to promote sustainable ideas, including environmental and historic overlay considerations. J. Leahy noted potential to utilize local artists to fabricate portions of the school including bike racks and art installations. J. Leahy questioned Dutton St. and how it will be used going forward. A. Ianucelli clarified the anticipated use for the road included intention to continue allowing parking on one side of the street. J. Drown announced upcoming meetings over the month of February, including the next School Building Committee on Feb. 24th, and MSBA Detailed Design meeting on April 13th. E. Donoghue noted the Feb. 24th meeting is a Monday and will include an important vote. Cost estimations will be presented to SBC members ahead of the vote. E. Donoghue noted the cost submitted at roughly $343 million will not change. J. Leahy noted the design looks very nice, apart from the stairwell issue, and questioned the overall project timeline. M. Williams noted there has not been a change in the overall timeline at this point. E. Donoghue clarified the potential to turnover building phases over the summers, which could possibly speed up the overall project. J. Leahy questioned the rumor over the entire 1980s building being knocked down. E. Donoghue noted part of the 80’s building will be demolished, the other part will be gutted and renovated. E. Donoghue noted the Feb. 4 community and parent meeting. W. Samaras asked for traffic mitigation at next SBC meeting. C. Walentin affirmed that will be discussed at the next meeting. E. Donoghue noted the Feb. 4 meeting is on a Tuesday. W. Samaras clarified the traffic question request is for the plan during construction phases. E. Donoghue noted Suffolk and Skanska are looking at office space downtown to mitigate the need for trailers on site. Motion to adjourn at 5:50. All voted in favor.