Construction Management

Case Study:

Blue Springs School District Addition and Renovations to the Freshman Center and Additions and Renovations to Blue Springs High School

Fogel-Anderson Construction Co. was selected as Construction Manager for part of the Blue Springs School District’s $40 Million plus Bond Issue of 2005. Starting in November, 2004, Fogel-Anderson Construction Co. began working with The Hollis & Miller Group, Program Designer’s, on budgeting and scheduling of three projects. The Addition to the Freshman Center is planned for 2006.

The two Projects addressed here are Additions and Renovations of both the Freshman Center and Blue Springs High School Commons. Prior to the vote on the Bond Issue, Fogel-Anderson Construction Co. provided cost and scheduling direction as well as other information necessary to promote the passage of the Bonds. The day after the successful passage, construction documents were begun in earnest. The goal was to have both Projects designed and bid within 45 days. Because of prioritization (and, we like to think, the District’s faith in Fogel-Anderson Construction Co.’s ability to solve issues quickly), the design and bidding of eight other Projects, managed by another CM, were completed prior to our two Projects, throwing the schedule behind some 30 days. When we received the Bid Documents, we aggressively advertised for bids, received and tabulated them and made our recommendations to the Board. Following the approval by the Board in May, 2005, we awaited the end of school. When released we had 87 days to make it happen.

The Freshman Center consisted of 55,000 square feet of an existing building that required removal and replacement of ceilings, installation of a new Fire Sprinkler system and the addition of some new 2-hour firewalls. A number of existing walls were removed, some of them structural. Shoring and bracing of critical structural elements became paramount, to allow progress toward completion. Two weeks after commencing construction, the City of Blue Springs required that the entire building to be Fire Sprinkled, adding 52,000 square feet of renovations to the Project- with no change in completion dates. Shift and over-time work became necessary. Senior Project Manager Don Sharp and Superintendent Casey Williams were also faced with a concurrent Cafeteria Addition that include a complicated Graphics Package and Glass Curtain Wall. The discovery of asbestos in the existing VCT mastic delayed work for one week, as the District’s Asbestos Abatement Contractor remediated the floors.

The High School Project consisted of 25,000 square feet of existing Auditorium and Cafeteria renovations, as well as re-roofing the entire building and installing a new Fire Sprinkler throughout the entire building. Once again, asbestos was discovered in floor covering mastic with similar results as in the Freshman Center. The Commons Addition was enclosing an existing Courtyard, providing a new Courtyard and increasing the capacity of the Cafeteria. The end result was both functional and, with the up-dates in décor and landscaping, aesthetically pleasing. Senior Project Manager Don Sharp and Superintendent Brian Caldarella successfully executed the School District’s plan.

Having said all this, what was the bottom line. The School District was correct. Fogel-Anderson Construction Co. was superior in timely and cost-efficient problem-solving. Both Projects were completed within 87 days and below the Six Million Dollar Budget.
Probably to the dismay of some students, School was back in session. Please access the link below to view the completed Projects.

Blue Springs School District Freshman Center and High School Commons