Taconic Architect: Building New Better Than Renovating

By Andy McKeeveriBerkshires Staff
Print Story | Email Story
Carl Franceschi presented the options to the School Building Needs Commission on Monday.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Architects are saying the benefits of building a brand-new school significantly outweigh those of renovation.
 
Drumney Rosane & Anderson Architects Inc. is consulting on the process of building or renovating Taconic High School. After developing three possible options — renovation, build new or a combination — the group is now evaluating the options.
 
"Right now it is looking like new construction is making more sense than either of the other two options," said Carl Franceschi of DRA.
 
Last month, Franceschi presented a criteria matrix featuring about 20 aspects of construction, to which the architects have since applied scores.
 
Of the criteria, the new school option was superior in all but five aspects, Franceschi said.
 
 "Without weighting them, new construction is favored in all but five categories," he said. "It is coming out ahead on the scorecard before we've applied weight to them."
 
That includes added multipliers for the aspects they feel are more important, Franceschi said. 
 
The aspects of a new build that were less superior were overall cost, net cost to Pittsfield, size of the gym and auditorium, ability to expand and environmental impacts. The cost figures are still tentative as the architects further vet the options.
 
"We do think new construction will be more expensive than renovation," he said, including both the total price tag and the ultimate payout the city will have to make.
 
The enrollment numbers do not support the size of the current auditorium or gym, so those would be shrunk in a new school. The new school is also proposed to take a smaller footprint, but be compacted around playing fields, parking lots and the roadway, so expansion in the future is more difficult.
 
"We do have to acknowledge hat there would be some environmental impact," Franceschi concluded, outlining that some wetlands would be affected during construction and then replaced with the new option, which wouldn't happen in either of the other two.
 
The architects are hoping to make a recommendation by the end of the month on which option to present to the state. The next step is to add in weights from the board to help finalize the proposal; then the School Building Needs Commission will decide. The goal is to have a proposal to the state in August so the city can be on the Massachusetts School Building Authority's September meeting.
 
However, Franceschi said that deadline might not be met. The MSBA hasn't responded to the previous submission and the architects can't finalize everything until they incorporate any MSBA concerns into the presentation.
 
"There is a potential that it may delay our next submission," he said. "The fact that we haven't gotten their comments back means we can't respond. ... We're coming up against a point where it might jeopardize that scheduled date." 
 
Though he hasn't heard formally, Franceschi said he was told there may be questions about the enrollment figures submitted in the preliminary design and the vocational education plan. The MSBA may call a meeting in Boston to get more details on those areas, he said.
 
"There may some issues with the enrollment or there may be some issues with the educational program," he said. "It is possible that the response may require a meeting in Boston to talk. It could be that kind of level of discussion."
 
Franceschi said typically the municipalities receive comments on the preliminary design in three to four weeks. The School Building Needs Commission submitted its plan in early June.

Tags: MSBA,   school building committee,   Taconic High,   

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Habitat For Humanity Modular Homes Coming to Robbins Ave.

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

The homes will be available for residents earning between 55 and 65 percent of the area median income. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The first of two below-market modular homes arrived on the West Side on Thursday, and both are expected to be move-in ready this summer.

The other is expected next week.

Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity is building two below-market condominiums at 112 Robbins Ave. for families earning between 55 percent and 65 percent of the area median income. Monthly costs for the three- and four-bedroom units are expected to be less than $1,500 with Habitat's subsidies.

Modulars allow for quicker construction to get more families into quality, affordable housing.

"Just because we have such an aggressive schedule this year, we are doing many modulars in addition to the stick-built that we usually do," communications manager Erin O'Brien explained.

Just this year, the nonprofit is constructing five homes in Pittsfield and 10 in Housatonic.

The two homes at 112 Robbins Ave. will come to $148,000 for a three-bedroom with the 20 percent subsidy and $156,000 for a four-bedroom. Similar homes in the Pittsfield area are valued between $225,000 and $250,000.

While prices are subject to change, the three-bedroom condo will cost owners about $1,430 per month and the four bedroom $1,495 per month, compared to renting in the city for more than $1,800 per month. Habitat noted that this provides a potential annual savings of $4,500 to $6,000, while building equity and long-term financial security.

The eligibility range between 55 percent and 65 percent AMI is said to support families who earn too much for most housing subsidies but still struggle to afford market-rate homes.

View Full Story

More Pittsfield Stories