Facilities Master Planning update: Cost estimate for needed maintenance and repairs is now clear

Based on the results of professional assessments conducted this fall, the estimated cost for simply funding needed maintenance and repairs at the aging middle schools and Burbank Early Childhood School is now clear.

That figure — approximately $103.7 million for all three schools — was shared with residents at the latest community engagement sessions on December 3 and 4 in phase two of Upper Arlington Schools’ facilities master planning process.
 

Physical assessments

The $103.7 million estimate reflects a thorough review done this fall by Moody Nolan and Heapy, local architecture and engineering firms, respectively, to update the physical assessments that were conducted in 2015, during the first phase of facilities master planning, for Hastings Middle School, Jones Middle School and Burbank Early Childhood School. For these assessments, they looked at all aspects of the buildings’ physical state — from the foundation and roof to the electrical, plumbing and HVAC systems. 

“While these assessments found that our buildings have been well-maintained over the decades, they also found that many aspects of our buildings are simply at the end of their useful life,” said Treasurer/Chief Financial Officer Andrew Geistfeld. 

Based on the list of identified issues, Turner Construction estimated the cost of repairs for each building, arriving at the $103.7 million total for all three buildings. 

“Construction costs have increased dramatically across the country over recent years, but that is especially true in central Ohio, where several large construction projects have increased demand for labor and depleted supplies,” Geistfeld said. “This estimate from Turner reflects those challenges.” 

Superintendent Robert Hunt, Ph.D., added, “It’s important to note that this figure simply would cover the needed repairs and mechanical updates to these buildings. Going forward, the community experts on our Facilities Task Force, our volunteers on the building teams and the community as a whole will have to wrestle with any options that go above and beyond simply repairing these buildings so they remain functional for the next 20 years.” 

 

Educational assessments

As Moody Nolan and Heapy were conducting the physical assessments of the buildings, architects from Perkins + Will were simultaneously conducting educational adequacy assessments — looking at the flow, functionality and other aspects of each building. Their primary findings included undersized and cramped classrooms at all levels, acoustics issues in learning spaces due to outdated mechanical units, and low or lack of daylighting in certain classrooms at Burbank and Jones. 

The full reports for both the physical and educational adequacy assessments will be available at www.uaschools.org/facilities in the coming weeks.
 

What’s next

Now that the Assessments Phase is completed, the master planning process will be moving into the Options Phase. Over the next few months, the building teams for Burbank, Hastings and Jones will be using the findings of these assessments to help develop additional options beyond maintaining and repairing.

This winter, the building team volunteers and any interested community members will come together to explore the future of education and learning spaces at a Learning Environments Summit on January 22 at 6:30 p.m. in Upper Arlington High School North Learning Commons, 1625 Zollinger Road.

Following the summit, the community may learn about the draft planning options developed by the building teams at Community Engagement Session #3 — February 18 at 6:30 p.m. at Burbank Early Childhood School, 4770 Burbank Drive; and February 19 at 9:00 a.m. at the Graf Center, 2020 Builders Place.

“If you haven’t yet become involved in this process, I can’t emphasize enough how much we want you to join us,” Dr. Hunt said. “Our schools belong to our community, and your voice truly matters as we plan for the future together.”