![[CREDIT: WP composite] A $350M new high schools project will begin in late 2024.](https://northamerica.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/New-Warwick-High-Schools-Warwick-RI-1.jpg)
The changes included a Toll Gate basement reconfiguration, a simplified superstructure, site balancing, a constructability review, and completion of consultant placement, he said.
The total project budget is now $372,993,482. Construction on Pilgrim will begin on the week of April 21, Spiegel noted. Toll Gate construction will begin the week of May 5. The move in date for the high schools will be in July through August 2027.
The reason for Toll Gate’s work start date delay is due to the RI Department of Environmental Management (DEM) reviews of new wetlands on the site.
Saccoccio and Associates have been working on the design for Toll Gate. Pilgrim will be designed by Saam Architecture. Dimeo is serving as the construction firm for the project.
During public comment, Rob Cote, frequent city government critic, asked if the Committee would promise no overrun of the $350 million project for the two new high schools.
“You know that’s a promise I can’t make. As a building committee chair, I can’t make a promise that (the cost) won’t be a penny more than ($350 million),” committee member David Testa said.
“At the end of the day, if the project comes in at $361 or $365 million or whatever it is, I would still consider that a success,” Testa added.
New High Schools Cost overruns fix ongoing
Last December, School Committee members objected to some of the reductions proposed by Left Field and voted unanimously to restore some of the cut items, such as classroom storage space as well as the number of bleacher seats in the gymnasium, and new scoreboards for Pilgrim and Toll Gate.
The list of cuts, referred to as value engineering (VE) had been discussed by the district’s consultants including the OPM (Office of the Project Manager), the architects, representative of a half dozen engineering firms, and the construction manager.
Athletic Director Kenneth Rix explained how the athletic teams from the two schools will be displaced during the construction phase.
“The community has to be flexible,” Rix said. “It is subject to change. We’re going to get a good product in about four years. People are going to be having this start of the art facilities that they were hoping to have that we haven’t had. The public hasn’t been happy with our sports facilities in awhile. But we’re going to have to take a step back to take a few steps forward. There are going to be challenges. We may have to pivot and made adjustments. I don’t control any of the maintenance of any of the facilities. I am at the mercy of who’s going to maintain the facilities.”
In November 2022, voters approved a $350 million bond to pay for the high schools.
The total cost of Pilgrim had been $175 million. The total cost of Toll Gate was $174.5 million.
A followup meeting Jan. 30, 6 p.m., at t Warwick Veterans Middle School in the auditorium will be held to discuss remaining $22.9 million cost overrun to the new high schools project. Members of the public can use their public comment period for Q&A.
The meeting will be streamed on the district’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@wpsvideo3385
Tuesday’s meeting can be viewed on the district’s Youtube channel.
Author: Joe Siegel
Joe Siegel is a regular contributing writer for WarwickPost.com. His reporting has appeared in The Sun Chronicle in Attleboro and EDGE.
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